Big Easy employees, customers from 3 Raleigh bars face drug charges
DRIVING MORE THAN 20 MILES PER
HOUR OVER THE
SPEED LIMIT.
>> TODAY WE HAVE LEARNED
ALCOHOL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENTS
ARRESTED A TOTAL OF 6 PEOPLE IN
A DRUG BUST IN DOWNTOWN
RALEIGH. LEASES THEY RECEIVED
COMPLAINTS OF ILLEGAL DRUGS
BEING SOLD AT 3 DOWNTOWN BARS.
WRAL'S ASHLEY PATTERSON IS LIVE
IN DOWNTOWN RALLY OUTSIDE OF
THE BIG EASY WHERE MULTIPLE
EMPLOYEES ARE NOW FACING
CHARGES. DESTINY.
>> INVESTIGATORS SAY THAT THIS
INVESTIGATION WENT BACK TO
JANUARY AND IT LED TO THE
ARREST OF 2 EMPLOYEES HERE AT
THE BIG EASY AS WELL AS A
CUSTOMER AND CUSTOMERS AT 2
OTHER DOWNTOWN RALEIGH BARS.
I TALKED TO THE OWNERS OF THOSE
BARS AND THEY SAY THAT THEY
DON'T CONDONE THIS AT THEIR
BUSINESSES.
THIS RALLY STAPLE BRINGS
LOUISIANA FLAIR TO THE TAR HEEL
STATE KNOWN FOR GOOD FOOD AND
FUN OWNER STEVE HUNT SAYS.
>> HE DIDN'T THINK HIS BAR
WOULD BE WRAPPED UP IN THE
ALCOHOL LAW ENFORCEMENT'S
LATEST INVESTIGATION. I WAS
SHOCKED WHEN I HEARD WHAT ONLY
INVESTIGATORS SAY A CUSTOMER
SOLD DRUGS AT THE POPULAR
RESTAURANT ISN'T GOING TO BANKS
HAVE AN AUSTIN POLICE OFFICERS
ON THE WEEKENDS. AT LEAST ONE
SAYS HE FIRED THESE 2
EMPLOYEES, CALEB BOYD AND
MATTHEW BROWN. THEY'RE ACCUSED
OF PLANNING TO SELL DRUGS IN
ALLOWING CRIMINAL ACTIVITY AND
AN ABC LICENSE BUSINESS.
WHAT IS THE VETTING LOOK LIKE
FOR PEOPLE LIKE THIS? YOU SAID
THAT THERE IS REALLY NO
INDICATION OF SOMETHING LIKE
THIS HAPPENING. WE HAVE A LOT
OF PEOPLE TO ASK FOR MORE
WORKERS TO LIVE IN THE HOMELESS
SHELTER. WHEN YOU DO THAT,
THERE'S ALSO A CHANCE THAT
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME
UNDERSTANDING THAT BE HONEST
AND NOT THE MOST UPSTANDING
CITIZEN IN THE WORLD. BUT I
ALSO WANT TO GIVE PEOPLE A
CHANCE. ALY AGENTS ALSO CHARGED
TO CUSTOMERS AT THE CARDINAL
AND THIS CUSTOMER AT THE DAY,
THE BAR FOR SELLING AND
POSSESSING DRUGS THERE.
INVESTIGATORS SAY THEY SEARCH
MATTHEW WRECKED HIS HOME AND
FOUND MORE DRUGS AND 9 GUNS.
THE OWNERS OF THOSE BARS SAY
THEY DIDN'T KNOW THIS WAS
HAPPENING IN. DON'T CONDONE IT.
THE INVESTIGATION COMES AFTER A
RALLY FIREFIGHTER IN HIS RIGHT
FOR RECENTLY ARRESTED DURING A
SIMILAR STAYING FOCUSED ON BARS
AROUND GLENWOOD SOUTH BAILEY
DIRECTOR SAID IN A STATEMENT
THIS INVESTIGATION IS PART OF
A LARGER DRUG AND ALCOHOL
ENFORCEMENT INITIATIVE IN
DOWNTOWN RALEIGH, ALCOHOL AND
ILLEGAL CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES
ARE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS IN
VARIOUS CRIMES, INCLUDING
VIOLENT AND OTHER DESTRUCTIVE
OFFENSES. THAT'S JUST NOT A
GOOD PLACE OF WE ARE JUST AS
BAD SEEDS TO IT. DOESN'T THIS
PUT IT IN MINUTES?
>> THE PEOPLE INVOLVED ARE
FACING A SLEW OF CHARGES.
MANY OF THEM FELONIES. THE
OWNER HERE SAYS THAT HE'S DOING
HIS BEST TO COOPERATE, BUT THE
RESTAURANT COULD FACE SANCTIONS