Night of Hugging, Cussing Leads to Arrest

A trip to The Brass Tap at the Shops at Wiregrass turned sour for one Wesley Chapel man after he had some drinks, hugged some strangers and swore at them.

On Friday evening, patrons of the Brass Tap complained to the bar manager about a “drunken customer,” according to an arrest report from the Pasco County Sheriff's Office.

They indicated a man was calling them names and swearing at them. A bartender later told deputies the man also hugged several patrons who were unknown to him.

After hearing complaints, the manager told the man he was being cut off and needed to leave the bar. The man rubbed the manager's arm and asked her who made the complaints, and when she refused to tell him, he swore at her.

The man had to be physically escorted out of the business by the bartender and another employee. He swore at the bartender and pushed the bartender and the bartender’s coworker.

The man was arrested by Pasco County deputies and charged with disorderly intoxication. The sheriff’s office identified him as John Meredith, 27, of 1600 Firewheel Drive, Wesley Chapel. He was booked into jail but released the next morning after making $100 bail.