Authorities Target Huntington Station Bars; 6 Arrested: Police

Authorities conducted State Liquor Authority inspections at four Huntington Station bars on Saturday morning at approximately 1:15 a.m., arresting six people.

Police say the bars were targeted because of the MS-13 street gang and other illegal activities.

The bars targeted were:

• Santa Rosa Restaurant, located at 118 West Hills Road
• La Perfecta Bar & Restaurant, located at 137A Broadway
• At El Triunfo Taverna Corp, located at 1789 New York Ave.
• Safiro Bar, located at 1830 New York Ave.

Six men were arrested on multiple charges and three men were issued summonses for multiple violations.

At Santa Rosa Restaurant, police say they discovered an illegal gambling establishment in the basement. The owner, 42-year-old Nelly Garcia, was issued eight summonses for violations of the Alcohol Beverage Control Law and two summonses for fire code violations. Five people were also arrested:

• Santiago Garcia, 53, of Huntington, was charged with second-degree criminal nuisance
• Jose Garcia-Garcia, 25, was charged with promoting gambling
• Nicomades Biloreo, 51, of Huntington was charged with possession of a gambling device
• Carlos Velasquez, 39, of Huntington, was charged with possession of a gambling device
• Jose Guevara Canales, 20, of Huntington Station, was charged with fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon and criminal impersonation

At La Perfecta Bar & Restaurant, the manager Jesus Rivera was cited for numerous violations of the Alcohol beverage Control Law and received two summonses for Town of Huntington building code violations. One person was arrested:

• Celso LopezMerino, 56, of Huntington, was charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

At El Triunfo Taverna Corp, owner/manager Nery Menendez, 49, of Huntington, received one summons for a fire code violation.

At Safiro Bar, no violations were noted, but Alexander Sanchez, 31, of Huntington Station was taken into custody by Homeland Security Investigations special agents when it was discovered that he had been deported from the country twice before, police say.

The inspections were conducted by Suffolk County Police and Firearm Suppression Team, Town of Huntington Fire Marshall and NYS Liquor Authority Inspectors, in conjunction with Homeland Security Investigations special agents.

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