Harford confiscates restaurant’s liquor license

Police requested action because of drug investigation

A Havre de Grace restaurant had its liquor license temporarily confiscated at the request of Havre de Grace police, according to the administrator of Harford County’s liquor board.

Administrator Pilar Gracia said Police Chief Teresa Walter called on Nov. 20 “seeking the assistance of the liquor board with an emergency public safety shut down of Tidewater Grille.”

Cpl. Dan Petz of the Havre de Grace Police said Tuesday that Tidewater Grille, a restaurant on the Susquehanna River in the city, has been the subject of an “open drug investigation,” though he declined to offer any details.

No charges have been filed in the investigation.

Petz said city police temporarily shut down the restaurant at 7 p.m. Nov. 20 as part of the investigation, prompting the call to the liquor board.

Gracia said she sent an inspector to Tidewater Grille, and the liquor license was confiscated “pending resolution of this still-active situation.”

According to the liquor board, the licensee is Ralph Shapot. Shapot could not be reached for comment; a woman who answered the phone at the restaurant Tuesday said he was not available but she would pass along a message.

Gracia said the license to serve alcohol “remains confiscated to date.”

Gracia has been the county liquor board attorney since February 2008 and board administrator since July 2015. She said the request last week by Havre de Grace police was a first for her.

“I have never before been contacted by a law enforcement agency to assist in this manner,” she said.