December 03, 2005
Smitty's Grille, located next to the Colleyville First Baptist Church, is scene of multiple incidents on and off the property

Ibraim "Manny" Mena, reported as the local bar "owner"   Click on photos to enlarge.

Local News Only.com reported on September 4, 2005 the growing incidents of criminal activity, including DWI and "wandering drunk patrons" from what was first referred to as "Smitty's Irish Bar" but now has a sign declaring it to be "Smitty's Grill." A review of Colleyville Police records refer to "Manny" Mena as the "business owner" of the establishment located at 5224 Colleyville Blvd., approximately 800 ft from a front door of the First Baptist Church of Colleyville.  However, LNO's check of state records show that a Laura Celaju, who identifies her self as Mena's wife actually holds the TABC permit. Sources of LNO stated they had been told that Mena had a criminal record and couldn't be listed as the liquor permit holder.

A search of national criminal records returned a hit from New Jersey on a Ibraim Mena.  No one was at the facility to confirm if this was the same individual that is apparently now running the Colleyville business.  The New Jersey indictment against Mena reported a birth date of Dec. 21, 1964, while Texas DL information shows a Ibraim Mena with a birth date of Oct. 21, 1964

Searches of Texas Criminal Records did not report convictions that appeared to prohibit Mena from obtaining a liquor permit, while a conviction for a felony offense in any state would be adequate to likely create difficulties in obtaining such a permit.

The New Jersey indictment, conviction and May 11, 1992 sentencing of  Ibraim Mena was for the manufacturing and distribution of heroin and cocaine.  A three year prison sentence was handed out by Judge Stephen F. Smith along with a $2,000 fine and lengthy probation period thereafter.

The frequent DWI charges related to patrons of Smitty's brought the operation to the attention of LNO reporter and researcher Linda Baker.  Additional records from the Colleyville Police Department local officers have not been limited to the arrest of DWI patrons, in fact,  Mena has been arrested at least three times since August 12, 2005.

On Friday, August 12, 2005 around midnight, Colleyville Officer Chuck Tinsman conducted a warrant service on behalf of the Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission at the location referred to in the report as "Smitty's Sports Bar."  Tinsman had been informed earlier on the date by TABC Agent Brian Miers, a former Colleyville Police Officer, that TABC had issued two arrest warrants pertaining to the sale of alcohol to a minor.  The report stated that Mena was placed under arrest and brought to the Colleyville Justice Center.

On November 8th around 8:00 pm, Colleyville Police Records indicate that officer Bob Etheridge was dispatched to serve an arrest warrant on the "business's owner" Ibraim Mena.  The report states that the warrant was issued by the City of Colleyville and related to the operation of a poll hall in the city without a permit.  Etheridge first observed Mena near the front door, asked him to exit and informed him of the warrant.  Mena was reported as "very cooperative" and asked to drive his personal vehicle to jail and pay the $332 fine after being booked. Mena was allowed to follow the officer to the jail, he was booked and released after paying his fine.

Mena, who lists his home address on Plantation Oaks Drive in Trophy Club, was the subject of another arrest by Officer Bob Etheridge on November 1st. This time Mena was participant in a brawl in the establishment and, according to witnesses, while holding him in a "choke hold" was threatening to kill Michael O'Malley, 21, of Southlake.  When Colleyville Police Officers Arenz first arrived on the seen around 2:30 am, he observed O'Malley in the front of the building bleeding from the left side of his head.  The officer immediately called for the Colleyville Fire Department to send medical assistance.  Other Colleyville Police including Officer Mcfadden and Sgt. Cooper arrived next to secure the scene.

Officer Etheridge identified a witness, a 22 year old male from Hurst, who said he saw a man with a bat strike O'Malley several times.  When the witness tried to "forcefully" pull the business owner, Mena, off O'Malley he stated that Mena had the victim in a choke hold and was threatening to kill him.  After pulling Mena away from O'Malley, the good Samaritan pulled out his cell phone and said he was calling the police.  As he started to dial 911, Mena suddenly grabbed the phone and threw it to the ground breaking it.  Then the 22 year old was threatened with bodily harm, by Mena, if he tried to call the police again. The witness also said that after Mena broke his cell phone another white mail said his was going to his car to get a 9 mm gun.

Lane Boatler, an employee of Smitty's, was identified by witnesses as holding down the victim while another suspect hit him with a metal bat.

Etheridge then spoke with an individual that identified himself as a Smitty's employee, Lane Boatler, 31, of Hurst.  According to the report, Boatler told the officer that "he had done nothing and seen nothing."  Another 22 year old witness from Southlake said he witnessed a man hitting O'Malley with a baseball bat, then Mena put a choke hold on O'Malley telling him he was going to kill him.   Mena's wife, Laura Celaju, told Officer Mcfadden, in a written statement at the scene, that O'Malley and several of his friends had "attacked her husband." Alison Plume, of Bedford, who said she was a waitress for Smitty's, told police that O'Malley and Mena had words and started fighting near the stage when an "unknown patron" came up and hit O'Malley with a baseball bat.  The waitress said she left the area and called 911.

The individual identified as hitting the victim with a baseball bat was described as a white male, 6ft tall, medium build with close cropped blonde hair, and last seen wearing a baseball cap, blue jean pants and a blue jacket with a blue button up shirt with the embroidered nametag "DANIEL."  Several individuals said they believed he worked for a fueling company at Alliance Airport, however he had fled the area before police arrived.

The police report states that they observed a security camera tape that showed the suspect "Daniel" enter behind the bar and remove a bat and then left the view of the camera. The tape also showed Boatler running from the bar toward the stage.  However, according to the report, police were unable to obtain digital images because Mena's wife "did not know how to operate the equipment."  Other witnesses saw Boatler strike the brother of O'Malley, Christian with a pool cue, when he attempted to rescue his brother Michael from the assault.

Colleyville Police seized the bat for evidence.  The bat was an aluminum "Easton" 30 inch, 21 ounce youth softball bat.  Plume had shown police where the bat was located behind the bar, she said in her statement that the bat was hidden by her to "prevent further use."

After a review of the scene, interview of witnesses and observation of the video tape, Colleyville Police placed Mena and Boatler under arrest.

According to the report, Mena was arrested for; "Interference with an attempt to make an Emergency Telephone call," when he prevented a patron from making a 911 call to law enforcement and that Mena recklessly rendered the phone unusable.  Mena was also charged with Assault causing bodily injury for the attack on O'Malley.

Boatler was arrested for Assault causing bodily injury and, upon further check, this trusted employee also had a Tarrant County Sheriff's Warrant for DWI-no bond.

The investigation Detective on the case is Kevin Walling.  Detective Walling filed charges on both Boatler and Mena that were accepted by the Tarrant County DA.  The Detective's report stated that "the bar owner is not cooperating with the investigation."  In addition, Walling stated on November 21st in his report that TABC Agent Miers had been contacted and was "going to be working a case on the bar owner of Smitty's, Ibraim, Mena.

The effort to keep this type of operation out of Colleyville was overcome in 2001 when the City Council removed the restrictions of 1,000 feet from churches to only 300 ft.  The city council had reduced the distance to 300 ft. when 2001 council members Hocutt, Rice, Feldman, Marlin and Tigue voted to change the distance to accommodate Miguelito's Restaurant.  Miguelito's was within the 1,000 ft. distance of Colleyville's First Baptist Church, therefore, was prohibited from selling alcohol. 

The issue arose again  March 2003 when the Town Center asked for a blanket alcohol variance for the shopping center. At that time, speaking in favor of the 300 ft. decision, Council member Ginny Tigue said the granting of blanket alcohol permits was necessary for the "economic development" of the city.  Councilman Richard Newton said there is concerned about the relaxing of the rules upon city council's whim and he wanted to determine what it would take to reverse the trend of alcohol sold near churches and schools.  

When Joe Deupree, a member of the First Baptist Church spoke against the issue, council member Tigue pointed out that no one from the Baptist Church objected when the alcohol permit was granted to Miguelito's (in 2001).  Church member Deupree said that there was not an objection to the permit because folks were under the impression this was for a restaurant and not a bar.  However, the permit stays with the property and the business can change hands many times.  Deupree said if fellow members realized the council had changed the voter's will by allowing bars next to churches, the reaction would have been much different.

That vote was a 4 to 1 decision, with only Councilman Richard Newton in dissent.

Despite the fact the very little sales taxes is paid by Smitty's, according to TABC records, the problems associated with the operation have far outweighed restaurants in the city with a 60% food and 40% liquor ordinance.

Contact Us | Help |
© 2000-2005 Local News Only.com™ 
Copyright - All rights reserved
  Published by Local Net Com, Inc.
General Partner for: