PITTSBURGH —
Capo’s bar in Pittsburgh’s South Side neighborhood is closed under a temporary injunction, pending a court hearing, the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office said Monday.
The move comes after a reported stabbing at the East Carson Street nightspot over the weekend.
“When our office learned of the incident at Capo’s on Friday night/Saturday morning, because the Court of Common Pleas, Civil Division, is closed on the weekend, immediate contact was made with bar management, and the bar was to remain closed on Saturday and Sunday,” District Attorney Stephen Zappala’s office said in a statement. “Our investigation continued throughout the weekend.”
SouthsideCan president, Don Berman said they have tried to work with the bar but nothing has changed.
“The community has been really upset about the disruption caused by this particular bar. We’ve tried to work with them. We’ve worked to make something better instead of what they’re doing. And the police have done a great job documenting all the stuff that goes on here. And we’re very grateful that the district attorney took this step, which was really needed.”
Others like Rebecca Kassovitz, South Side Chamber of Commerce VP said this weekends stabbing was the final straw.
“I also think that that will send a message to other businesses, whether they be in the South Side or other locations of the city, that you can’t continue to behave badly and have the privilege of operating a business.”
City councilperson, Bob Charland said this closure should have happened a long time ago.
“It should have been shut down the last time they were on their last straw. You know, since March. They had an incident in March and another incident at the end of the summer. We’ve gone through Herculean efforts to make East Carson Street the safest street in in the county. And yet we still end up in a position where this bar is ruining it for everybody,” he said.
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The DA’s office said Capo’s violated a prior consent agreement that had allowed the bar to continue operating. Capo’s will now remain closed until the scheduled hearing on Dec. 7.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE COURT ORDER
Pittsburgh police said the stabbing took place shortly before midnight on Friday, and that one person was taken to the hospital in critical condition. No suspects have been identified as the investigation continues.
Community groups, including the South Side Community Action Network and South Side Chamber of Commerce, and City Council member Bob Charland have issued an open letter calling for Capo’s to be shut down.
“While we are always happy to collaborate with local groups, we must conduct an independent investigation gathering the facts and follow the legal process,” Zappala’s office said.
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