Last Monday, Mass State Police arrested two bouncers at the popular Tall Ship concept bar and patio along the Eastie waterfront for allegedly assaulting two nurses that were drinking at the establishment.
State Police arrested David Ortega, 38, of Tewksbury and Mario Reyes, 28, of Chelsea were arrested for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, a shod foot. Ortega was arraigned and released on personal recognizance while was held on $250 bail because of an outstanding warrant for leaving the scene of personal injury.
Police were called down to the Tall Ship a little after 8 p.m. last Monday night to assess injuries sustained by a 23-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman that alleged they were attacked by the two bouncers.
The two were taken to Mass General by Boston EMS for evaluation after the incident
One victim, who works as a nurse at Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital, told Boston media after the incident that she and her colleague were at the Tall Ship having drinks when they were asked to leave.
She said bar staff accused her of being drunk after she tripped on a mat. She and her male colleague began to leave the bar and after words were exchanged security ran after the two and accused them of yelling at people to not go into the Tall Ship.
The two accused the two bouncers that were later arrested and charged of kicking the female nurse’s legs out from under her and then sucker punching the male nurse. The two then said they were set upon by the bouncers and kicked, with the male being kicked in the legs and head.
The female nurse suffered multiple bruises while the male nurse suffered from an apparent concussion.
In a statement to the media, the Tall Ship said staff asked the group of nurses to leave the property because they were acting rowdy. The establishment also stated that the nurses refused to leave after they were escorted out and accused them of heckling customers as they were leaving.
“After complaints from our customers our manager approached the group again and politely asked them to leave,” read the statement. “At that time one of the members of the group attacked our security staff. We have video evidence that supports these events that we have turned over to the police and we are working with them in their investigation.”
However, some in the community are not impressed by the new waterfront bar that opened earlier this summer and there have been more and more complaints about the establishment from Jeffries Point residents and business owners.
“I wish they’d just shut the stupid thing down,” said resident Jeff Robinson. “It’s fun, yeah, but not worth the problems it continues to bring to our community. I’m over it.”
As complaints grew, City Councilor Lydia Edwards recently held a meeting with the owner, Charlie Larner, to address some of the complaints from the community.
“We had a meeting with (the owner) late last week,” Edwards’s Chief of Staff Ricardo Patron confirmed. The meeting with Edwards was followed by an update to the Jeffries Point Neighborhood Association by Larner.
Members of the JPNA sent Larner a letter stating that while the Tall Ship is undeniably popular, there is a significant impact on the neighborhood.
“The Jeffries Point Neighborhood Association board has received a number of complaints,” the group wrote in an email to Larner. “We’d like to share these complaints with you and ask that you work to mitigate the impact of your operations.”
Complaints included traffic and parking, after hours noise and litter.
“Neighbors have complained about loud music late at night on weeknights, and people shouting late at night,” the JPNA members wrote. “In addition, we have received complaints about the noise from the on-site electrical equipment which runs all night.”
In response Larner told JPNA members to help mitigate traffic issues he has hired details from Massport Police and Mass State Police.
“We have two details from one of the units from Thursday – Sunday,” he said. “They have been doing a great job with helping to mitigate the traffic along E Pier Drive.” As far as after hours noise Larner said his team is willing to have a limit that is below the required 70 dbs and are meeting with Roseland