Licensing Board eyes wanted man
Hearing tomorrow to weigh restaurant owner’s ‘character’
The Boston Licensing Board plans to hold a hearing tomorrow to determine whether a North End restaurant owner charged with attempted murder should be stripped of his liquor license.
A city spokesperson said the 4 p.m. hearing is being held in response to the pending charges against Patrick Mendoza, who is wanted by police for allegedly shooting at a man outside a North End pastry shop a week ago.
Mendoza, 54, is listed as the manager and liquor license holder at Monica’s Trattoria, according to Analyze Boston, the city’s open data hub.
“The Licensing Board has scheduled an informational hearing to review the character and fitness of the licensee and manager of record pursuant to state law,” a city spokesperson said.
State law dictates that before issuing or renewing a license, a local licensing authority must determine that the applicant is “a person of good character in the city or town in which he seeks a license hereunder.”
A liquor license can also be suspended or revoked if the licensee is convicted of any crime that is a felony under state or federal law, according to the general rules of the Boston Licensing Board.
Mendoza is wanted on a straight warrant out of Boston Municipal Court for assault to murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building, unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, and witness intimidation.
He remains at large, a Boston Police spokesperson said on Tuesday. An earlier post on the department’s website stated that Mendoza “should be considered armed and dangerous.”
“Anyone that comes in contact with him should contact 911 immediately,” police wrote last week.
Mendoza did not return a phone call seeking comment.
The North End restaurant owner is alleged to have fired three shots at a man just outside Modern Pastry, a popular café on Hanover Street, at around 11 p.m. last Wednesday, a police report states.
The man “dove behind a parked vehicle” to avoid the gunfire, and was not injured. Mendoza is alleged to have fled “on a bike with a handgun still in hand” towards Cross Street, the report states.
Mendoza is listed as president, treasurer, secretary and director for Monica’s Trattoria on Prince Inc., per a corporation division filing with the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office.
Monica’s Trattoria opened in 1995, according to its website.