Police Respond to Fight, Violation at Downtown Bars

Naperville Police Department responded to two incidents this weekend, one involving a fight, at separate bars in downtown Naperville.

Earlier: 

The first incident occurred late Friday night around 1:06 a.m. when police responded to an altercation at BlackFinn American Saloon, 16 W. Jefferson St., between a patron and staff member, according to the Naperville Police Department.

Police said the patron, Sarah Abel, 20, of the 2800 block of Dorothy Drive in Aurora, entered the bar with a false ID and was under the age of 21. Abel was arrested and charged with consumption of liquor by a minor and possession of a false identification card, police said. 

Then, on late Saturday night around 1:41 a.m., police responded to a fight in progress outside of The Lantern, 8 W. Chicago Ave. Officers discovered that a bouncer got into an altercation with a patron who was not being allowed back into the bar, police said.

During the fight, the bouncer suffered a broken nose after allegedly being punched in the face by William W. Mitchell, 21, of the 9700 block of South 90th Avenue in Palos Hills, police said.

Mitchell was arrested and charged with one count of battery, police said.

The incidents come nearly two months after city officials temporarily suspended BlackFinn’s late-night liquor permit for three days on Nov. 16, 2012.

After a number of incidents, including a brawl in October, BlackFinn met with city officials on Nov. 5 and admitted to four violations of the city's liquor code and voluntarily agreed to the suspension.

The popular downtown Naperville bar also agreed to installing an ID checking system by Dec. 5, 2012, security cameras within a one-year time-frame as well as local Beverage Alcohol Sellers and Servers Education and Training for its security staff. 

The city also fined BlackFinn $1,000 in November 2012, according to the city.