Several staff members assaulted during violent attack at a Calgary cocktail bar
A beloved Calgary cocktail bar is speaking out after a violent incident earlier this month, where two guests allegedly assaulted several staff members.
In a social media post, Shelter Cocktail Bar said several of its staff had been assaulted by two guests who became violent with the staff.
In addition to several employees being physically attacked, Chef Rich McLaren of Knotted Roots, which has been operating the kitchen at Shelter, suffered a facial fracture and needed six stitches following the altercation, forcing him to step away from work to recover.
Shelter added that it was “incredibly proud” of how professional the team had acted during the difficult situation and thanked patrons who had stepped in to help.
“Behind every bar, kitchen and dining room are people simply trying to create a good experience for others, and violence toward hospitality staff should never be normalized or accepted,” Shelter added.
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In a statement, Calgary Police Service (CPS) said it had responded to a report of an assault at the cocktail bar at 1210 1st St. SW, Calgary, on Friday, May 15.
“It is believed two patrons became aggressive after consuming alcohol and assaulted several staff members when asked to leave. As one of the suspects exited, he caused damage to the establishment’s door,” CPS said.
The female suspect was arrested when police arrived on the scene, while the male suspect fled on foot and assaulted officers who were attempting to take him into custody, before he was eventually arrested.
Both have since been charged, the male suspect with one count of assault by choking, one count of common assault, two counts of assault with intent to resist arrest, and one count of mischief, and the female suspect with one count of assault.
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