Workers' Comp Fraud Probe Stalls

Airport Boss's Daughter Named To County Post

By JERRY LYNOTT jlynott@leader.net
 Friday, February 09, 2001 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 1A 





SCRANTON - Wilkes-Barre police answered more than 25 calls related to
Desi's Famous Pizza since September 1998, and the owners said it's proof of an
assault by the city to shut down their business. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Fourteen police officers testified at a daylong hearing Thursday they
responded to fights, loud-music complaints and a shooting near the Hazle
Avenue bar and restaurant in November. The state called them to support its
case to take away the liquor license that has been temporarily renewed pending
a review of alleged abuses. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ``The only thing I'm guilty of is treating people fair and working hard,''
said Frank Desiderio, co-owner of Desi's with his brother, Martin. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Frank Desiderio said he has improved security inside and outside the
property, cooperated with police when they responded and given them
information about the Nov. 13 shooting that left one man wounded. ``They make
it seem like I'm some bad guy.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The victim of the shooting, Larry Lott, was waiting outside the hearing
room and was supposed to testify for the Desiderios, said their attorney,
Patrick McHugh. But Lott was arrested on outstanding warrants. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Attorney Robin Coward, representing the state, said she agreed to have Lott
testify and let police deal with him afterward. But Lott was leaving the
Scranton State Office Building and police had to arrest him, she said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The brothers and McHugh appeared agitated when hearing examiner, attorney
Patrick Mellody, prevented them from elaborating on their contention race was
the reason for the police crackdown. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``This is a Wilkes-Barre police show,'' snapped McHugh when Mellody limited
the testimony of Ron Felton, president of the Wilkes-Barre NAACP. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Felton said Martin Desiderio contacted him about problems at the bar and
restaurant. ``He thought a lot of the pressure he was feeling from the police
was due to the diversity of the clientele'' that had increased since another
establishment was shut down. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 He did not identify the other establishment, but in a press release sent
out before the hearing, Felton referred to Chu's Lounge - the Carey Avenue
tavern closed last year as a nuisance bar. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``With constant references to Chu's Lounge, it is equivalent to saying
African American since many residents know that Chu's was an African American
establishment frequented by mostly African Americans but had a diverse
clientele,'' Felton wrote. ``The National Association for the Advancement of
Colored People fears that a whole group of people are being condemned by the
actions of a few. The NAACP feels that the Wilkes-Barre Police Department
should concentrate more effort on identifying those individuals responsible
for reckless behavior instead of shutting down establishments when the owners
are trying to cooperate with law enforcement.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Felton said he was disappointed with the testimony limitations. ``If
they're going to make a decision based on information supplied to them by
police, at least examine some of the issues that might have facilitated
that.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 He added he was concerned that if the authorities are successful shutting
down Desi's, ``it's going to promote fear in other establishments that might
be as open.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Wilkes-Barre Police Capt. Pat Rushton said the number of police responses
to the area near Desi's has decreased since the shooting. The police presence
in the area also has diminished from when patrols were stepped up in the
summer months. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 When asked by McHugh whether McGroarty instructed police to do everything
they can to shut down Desi's, Rushton said no. The mayor's instructions were
to do what was necessary to ensure ``we don't have any more problems up
there.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 After hearing the testimony, Mellody said, he will make a recommendation to
the Liquor Control Board within two to three weeks. The board's decision will
most likely take longer, he said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Jerry Lynott, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7237. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Bar Owner Says Cops Targeting Business 
A Hearing Examiner Listens To Wilkes-barre Police And Other Parties On Whether
Desi's Should Lose Its Liquor License.

Bar Owner Says Cops Targeting Business A Hearing Examiner Listens To Wilkes-barre Police And Other Parties On Whether Desi's Should Lose Its Liquor License.