** NEWS RELEASE **
Mammoth Lakes Man Arrested for Assault with a Deadly Weapo
Christopher Alderfer
On Saturday, January 4 at approximately 11:40 p.m., Mammoth Lakes Police Officers responded to a call of an intoxicated man swinging a hatchet at patrons at The Tap bar located on Main Street. When the first officer arrived, several people pointed to Christopher Alderfer, age 32, of Mammoth Lakes. Alderfer was taken into custody without incident.
The officers’ investigation determined that Alderfer attempted to take a pitcher of beer outside the bar. He was told several times by a security guard he could not do so. At one point, Alderfer tried to physically force his way past the security guard to get the pitcher of beer outside.
Alderfer told the security guard ‘I’ll be right back!” and exited the bar. He returned a short time later carrying a hatchet which he swung at the security guard and then began swinging it in a figure 8 in front of his body. Alderfer threatened to kill the security officer as he swung the hatchet at him from approximately 3 feet away. The security guard was able to avoid being struck. Alderfer returned the hatchet to his vehicle before officers arrived.
Witnesses supported the security guard’s explanation and one overheard Alderfer say that the hatchet was a “throwing axe.” Witnesses also described Alderfer threatening to thrown the axe at them.
Officers located the 15 inch hatchet. Alderfer submitted to a breath test which showed his blood alcohol level was .26. Alderfer was arrested and booked at Mono County Jail for Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Exhibiting a Deadly Weapon, Criminal Threats, and Plain Drunk.
I work at the bar and was there when it happened. the guy is a long time local thats always been cool. He did order a pitcher of beer. He drank half. so yeah he prolly came in drunk which is not always easy to tell if the guy just… Read more »
The elements of 647 F of the Penal Code are being drunk in a public place and being unable to care for yourself or property. It’s commonly referred to as being “Drunk in Public” or “Plain Drunk,” to distinguish it from crimes as Driving Under the Influence, commonly called Drunk… Read more »
My point is there is a lot of ambiguity in the law to distinguish between the free will of a person to purchase something and the ability of the establishment to be held responsible for that purchase. What if that person is not “obviously intoxicated” and still has a BAC… Read more »
I would agree that we should take responsibility for our own actions – and that would include the establishments that make a handsome profit from selling alcohol to customers.
A liquor license is almost a license to print money. Bar tenders and bar owners can afford to exercise some discretion.
Anyone know the penalty for a “plain drunk” conviction? I’ve never heard of that law. Is it unique to Mammoth? I’d hate to be arrested for plain drunk when I don’t even know what it is.
I know, go see a shrink for two grand, get told know one can help you but yourself, then go to a free AA meeting where you might get some help.
The California Business and Professions (B&P) Code establishes rules and regulations for Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) licensed locations and their employees. Section 25602(a) states, “Every person who sells, furnishes, gives, or causes to be sold, furnished, or given away, any alcoholic beverage to any habitual or common drunkard, or to… Read more »
Too bad Foster Brooks is dead or you could use him for some role playing.
I’m my own bartender; if I over-serve myself I feel like a rubber trashcan that has been run over by a bus the next day.
If I drive drunk I fully hope to see my MUGG on SW media.
A punishment worse than death.
Life in the public eye.
Every person who sells, furnishes, gives or causes to be sold, furnished or given away, any alcoholic beverages to any habitual drunkard, or to any obviously intoxicated person is guilty of a misdemeanor. (Section 25602)
California law.
Nothing new.
Another Mammoth drug related violent crime! Where’s the zero tolerance posts? Wayne’s lonely here.
People can go nuts with or without drugs and booze.
….seriously,what the “authorities” should do is check the survallence cameras and see if this bartender served this guy alcohol, to the excess,leading to that .26 level….if so,besides throwing the book at the guy that was (allegedly) swinging the hatchet,charge the bartender,unless he came into the establishment hammered….If you serve bar… Read more »
I’ll have to disagree with Casper and Wayne on this one. It’s not the bar’s responsibility to play mom and keep track of what and how much every single patron is drinking. Some bars are down right busy and the bartender is doing the best they can just to keep… Read more »
Wrong!! It’s the responsibility of the bartender and the bar to NOT over-serve ANY customer. It’s the law and one too many incidents of this kind can place their license in jepardy as well as place the bartender and bar on legal trouble. A business that serves alcohol is liable… Read more »
The Tap does not have a full liquor license, it’s beer and wine only. the barkeep may be keeping a watch on what he served the dude, but what a lot of people do at the Tap is popped down to the Outlaw Saloon (same building, but below the Tap… Read more »
more excuses, Is anyone responsible anymore, or are we just a country of blamers, excuses and finger pointers?
Actually there is in the code the comes with the liquor license (for beer and wine too) that the bartenders and staff MUST be trained to spot people who are “extremely intoxicated” which, with a .2+ this guy would be, and then the establishment staff, bartender included, must stop serving… Read more »
I still maintain its a tough law to enforce…..no-one expects a person to drink a pitcher by themselves, you believe it is for multiple people…if they are sober enough to be served said pitcher, and then proceed to drink the whole thing themselves and maybe drink a shot or two… Read more »
The District Attorney and courts will determine the outcome. Until then, it’s just so much speculation.
Benett Kessler
“Pretty much means the only way the Tap bartender can know to cut the guy off is if he sees him noticeably drunk, which is harder to do.” Yes, I already knew the Tap is beer and wine. Again, it’s the responsibility of the bartender to NOT over-serve anyone no… Read more »
so Dee, can you prove the bartender over served this patron? Quite possibly the person was only a little tipsy when they were served and then proceeded to drink an entire pitcher by himself. Or he was sober enough to be served the last time the bartender served him, but… Read more »
Like I said, this is so much speculation.
BK
Actually it is the responsibility of the barkeep. California ABC has classes to teach how to recognize intoxication…I doubt that the Tap can afford to send their employees to one of these classes. But the liability is there.
Classes are very inexpensive in Mono County. I think about $5.00 per person per year or maybe less.
Yes, of course, business people are always too busy with other things to be concerned about exercising a little discretion or some semblance of restraint. No, all they are ever expected to do is make money in every way possible. That excuses all other lapses of judgement. Do you understand… Read more »
Proving a bar over served a patron is drawing straws. As I said, someone else could be buying for that person. How do they know that person isn’t on some type of medication that makes the person flip out after 2 beers and pull out a hatchet? As far as… Read more »
Yes,yes, of course there is always an excuse for bad judgement, especially if someone calling themselves a business person is involved. Repsonsiblity? What’s that?
I can only laugh at all Joe’s stupid excuses.
Joe….In any other town or city in America,it IS the responsibility of the bar or tavern not to serve drunk patrons….doesn’t matter if the place is busy or not…many times,when bartenders serve a drunk person all night long,and if the drunk drives away and causes an accident and kills someone,the… Read more »
Wayne, See Chief Watson’s comment.
BK
Let’s all head up to Mammoth Lakes for a nice fun evening at one of the local taverns !!!
You drive, I’ll buy Wayne.
Sorry,Trouble,but when I head north,my truck automatically goes past Mammoth and keeps right on going the extra 50 miles or so into Bridgeport….
Does Bridgeport have a bar?In the winter I have to laugh when I see that freezer outdoor outside that store. Is it really turned on?
Don’t worry Wayne, we won’t miss you. I’ve done the bar scene in both Mammoth and bishop, come the closest to being beat up at Rustys by a drunk paiute once. Was at Rustys again one time when a bar brawl broke out. The worst I’ve seen in Mammoth was… Read more »
I hope the Tap learned something about over serving patrons
I seriously doubt he got that drunk in the tap on beer and wine.
All the respectful drunks drink at Johns pizza/Outlaw saloon where the liquor is served, and because the tap has live music on the weekends most of the drunks mosey upstairs for the music.
Alcohol and throwing axes don’t mix well.