Lubbock Councilman Gets Into Bar Owner’s Face Over Depot District Problems [Video]
With the recent issues in the Depot District, it seems that one city councilman has had enough.
We were tipped off to a situation that occurred in the early morning hours of Saturday, June 16th outside the Eleve Hookah Lounge.
Lubbock City Councilman Jeff Griffith confronted Eleve Hooka Lounge Owner Priten Patel over continuing issues in the Depot District. In the video above, you can see the councilman in the background, though you cannot make out any of the conversations.
Several individuals claimed that Councilman Griffith was intoxicated and saying inappropriate things. We reached out to the Lubbock Police Department, and this is the statement that Public Information Officer Tiffany Pelt gave us. It has a bit of a different story to it:
After midnight on June 16, 2018, LPD Officers assigned to the Downtown Unit were on foot patrol in the Depot District near Eleve Hookah Lounge. City Councilman Jeff Griffith, who had been at a nearby establishment, walked over to the area of Eleve. The Councilman verbally expressed his discontent to the owner/manager of Eleve regarding his business practices and ongoing problems in the Depot District. The verbal encounter escalated; however, no type of physical altercation occurred. An associate of the Councilman, who was with him that evening, escorted him away from the business. After a discussion with an on-scene LPD supervisor, the Councilman was driven away by his associate.
No offense occurred, and after reviewing the incident, it is apparent that the Councilman received the same treatment that any other individual in similar circumstances would have received and no special considerations were made because of the Councilman’s position. In response to questions regarding Public Intoxication, all elements of that statute were not present.
So at a minimum, it sounds like Councilman Griffith was very heated in his discussion with Patel.
I understand the need to restore order to the Depot District, but should a city councilman take it upon himself to get into a heated argument, in public, while the establishment is open?
We want to know what you think, so let us know in the comments or on the 102.5 Kiss Facebook page.
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