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City of Winston-Salem says poisoning incident at Burke Street Pub does not make bar a 'nuisance'

City of Winston-Salem says poisoning incident at Burke Street Pub does not make bar a 'nuisance'
BACK NOW WITH BREAKING NEWS. THE CITY OF WINSTON-SALEM SAYS A RECENT POISONING INCIDENT AT BURKE STREET PUB DOES NOT, IN THEIR VIEW, MAKE THE BAR A NUISANCE. THIS MEANS THERE IS NO ORDER FROM THE CITY TO SHUT THE BAR DOWN. LAST WEEK. 12 INVESTIGATES BROKE THE STORY OF A 31 YEAR OLD WINSTON-SALEM MAN WHO DIED AFTER DRINKING A BEER THAT WAS MIXED WITH CHEMICALS. BURKE STREET PUB SAYS THE CHEMICALS WERE LEFT BEHIND IN A LINE BY A BEER LINE, CLEANING COMPANY. WE ARE AWAITING AUTOPSY RESULTS STILL THIS EVENING, AND WE HAVE EXTENSIVE COVERAGE OF THIS STORY RIGHT NOW
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City of Winston-Salem says poisoning incident at Burke Street Pub does not make bar a 'nuisance'
Days after a 31-year-old Winston-Salem man died after drinking a beer tainted with chemicals at Burke Street Pub, the city of Winston-Salem has released a statement.Connor Sebastian, 31, of Winston-Salem, was one of the three patrons who became "violently ill" after drinking a beer, his family says.The conditions of the other two people injured have not been released. Autopsy results for Sebastian are pending.According to a Forsyth County Emergency Services report, it happened on Nov. 9 around 8:20 p.m.On Monday, the city of Winston-Salem released a statement that said, in part:"The City sends condolences to the family of the deceased individual, those injured, and anyone affected by this tragedy. As to whether this incident would trigger a nuisance abatement notification from the City, there is no indication that this matter would qualify under Chapter 19 of the North Carolina General Statutes, which is the applicable law."When asked if the city, or any city department, would investigate the incident further, Lori Sykes, the senior assistant city attorney, said the city had "nothing more to add to this statement."Top Stories1 shot in the head in Wilkes County, North Carolina SBI investigating, deputies sayMolly Corbett and Thomas Martens to be released from jail next year, not this week after a mistake with the NC Dept. of CorrectionsMan seriously injured after being shot in chest following an argument, police say Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking hereA 911 call, obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, provided insight into what happened. The caller told dispatchers that a contracted company that cleans the beer lines at the pub may have left a poisonous cleaner in one of the lines."All three of these people drank the exact same beer and immediately began vomiting. They said it was burning their throats and burning their mouths," the caller told 911.Last week, 12 Investigates learned that Caffey Distributing, out of Greensboro, is the distributor involved."We are investigating the matter and have no further comment at this time," Mark Bowman, the president of Caffey Distributing, said.Beyond Caffey Distributing investigating what went wrong, it's hard to find another agency that is. Several city, county and state agencies have said they are not looking into this case. That list includes: North Carolina Department of Public Safety's Alcohol Law Enforcement DivisionNorth Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control CommissionForsyth County Health DepartmentForsyth County Emergency ServicesNorth Carolina Department of Health and Human ServicesWinston-Salem Police DepartmentFriday, Burke Street Pub directed all further inquiries about the incident to their attorneys at Robinson & Lawing, LLP. Their offices would not say anything further beyond the statement the pub released. It reads, in part: "Burke Street Pub extends its condolences to the family. Burke Street Pub will not be making any further public statements at this time."This is a developing story. Check back for updates.Watch: NOWCAST streaming newscastsNAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Watch NOWCAST TV | Local News | National | News We Love |Trending Stories

Days after a 31-year-old Winston-Salem man died after drinking a beer tainted with chemicals at Burke Street Pub, the city of Winston-Salem has released a statement.

Connor Sebastian, 31, of Winston-Salem, was one of the three patrons who became "violently ill" after drinking a beer, his family says.

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The conditions of the other two people injured have not been released. Autopsy results for Sebastian are pending.

According to a Forsyth County Emergency Services report, it happened on Nov. 9 around 8:20 p.m.

On Monday, the city of Winston-Salem released a statement that said, in part:

"The City sends condolences to the family of the deceased individual, those injured, and anyone affected by this tragedy. As to whether this incident would trigger a nuisance abatement notification from the City, there is no indication that this matter would qualify under Chapter 19 of the North Carolina General Statutes, which is the applicable law."

When asked if the city, or any city department, would investigate the incident further, Lori Sykes, the senior assistant city attorney, said the city had "nothing more to add to this statement."

Top Stories

Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here

A 911 call, obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, provided insight into what happened. The caller told dispatchers that a contracted company that cleans the beer lines at the pub may have left a poisonous cleaner in one of the lines.

"All three of these people drank the exact same beer and immediately began vomiting. They said it was burning their throats and burning their mouths," the caller told 911.

Last week, 12 Investigates learned that Caffey Distributing, out of Greensboro, is the distributor involved.

"We are investigating the matter and have no further comment at this time," Mark Bowman, the president of Caffey Distributing, said.

Beyond Caffey Distributing investigating what went wrong, it's hard to find another agency that is. Several city, county and state agencies have said they are not looking into this case. That list includes:

  • North Carolina Department of Public Safety's Alcohol Law Enforcement Division
  • North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission
  • Forsyth County Health Department
  • Forsyth County Emergency Services
  • North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
  • Winston-Salem Police Department

Friday, Burke Street Pub directed all further inquiries about the incident to their attorneys at Robinson & Lawing, LLP. Their offices would not say anything further beyond the statement the pub released. It reads, in part: "Burke Street Pub extends its condolences to the family. Burke Street Pub will not be making any further public statements at this time."

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

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