Crime & Safety

Donahue's Madison Beach Grille Being Investigated

Teen charged with DUI says he was served there; Donahue's owner remembers that night and a big crowd of kids coming in; Since then, the popular bar, family restaurant has stepped up monitoring

A teenager who was charged with driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol says he was served at Donahue's Madison Beach Grille, an allegation that is being investigated by the Madison Police Department.

The teenager, who was arrested and charged on June 16, 2011 with driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, failure to drive in the proper lane, and failure to use a signal on a restricted turn, was stopped by a Madison police officer on Wednesday, June 15 at 11:50 p.m. after turning on to the Hammonasset Connector from the Boston Post Road.

The police report provides the following account.

Find out what's happening in Madisonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Failure to use turn signal alerts officer on patrol

The teenager, who had two other teenagers in the car, failed to use a turn signal when he turned on to the connector. After the police officer observed the failure to signal, he followed the car as it traveled northbound. The police officer, on routine patrol in a marked police cruiser, observed the car moving from side to side in its lane, and then swerving over the white dotted line into the right traffic lane twice before the intersection of the Hammonasset Connector and Duck Hole Road.

Find out what's happening in Madisonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The police office then pulled the car over and, as he started to talk with the driver, the officer "immediately recognized the strong distinct odor of an alcoholic beverage." The officer asked the driver for his license, registration, and insurance information and the driver "appeared confused and ... dropped his wallet."

After identifying the teen driver from his driver's license, the police officer requested a backup unit. The driver, who had "bloodshot and glassy eyes," and "slurred" speech, according to the police report, initially said he had not been drinking.

Series of sobriety tests administered

The teenager then was asked to take an alphabet test, a number test, and a dexterity test, and some standardized field sobriety tests including an eye tracking test, a heel-to-toe walking test, and a one leg stand. According to the report, the teenager failed to complete the tests successfully or was not able to perform the tests.

During the course of taking the tests, the teenager told the police officer that he was drunk. When the police officer asked where "he and his friends had been drinking and he said, Donahue's."

At 12:05 a.m. in June 16, the report says, the teenager was advised that he was under arrest.

Blood Alcohol Content more than an hour later estimated at .19

Some time after 12:24 a.m., the teenager told police officer he drank vodka and "multiple other drinks" and said "he did not know how much he drank" at Donahue's, according to the police report.

Two breath tests were administered, one at 12:44 a.m. and a second at 1:21 a.m. on June 16. Breath tests are non-invasive tests routinely administered by police departments to estimate Blood Alcohol Content. Both tests provided results that estimated the teenager's Breath/Blood Alcohol Content at .19, the police report said.

In Connecticut, anyone under 21 is considered legally intoxicated if their Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) is over .02. People over 21 are considered legally intoxicated if their BAC is .08 or higher. A PDF from the National Highway Traffic Administration accompanying this article explains typical effects and predictable effects of different BAC levels on driving.

The Madison police report also said that a police dispatcher was at Donahue's having dinner the same night that the teenager was arrested, and that the dispatcher saw the teenager there, and that the dispatcher did not see employees checking identifications at the entrance to Donahue's.

Investigation still underway

The police report submitted by the arresting officer and approved by his supervisor said that a liquor board referral for Donahue's for "serving under age" would be completed. Police on Wednesday said they did not know whether the investigation was complete and whether the referral had been made. A representative from the state Liquor Control Commission said earlier this month that a referral for Donahue's had not yet been made. Another call to the state Liquor Control Commission Wednesday has not yet received a response.

On Wednesday, Chris Donahue, one of the owners of Donahue's, declined to discuss the investigation or the specific arrest of the teenager who said he had been drinking at Donahue's.

But he did say he remembered the night of June 15. "About 12 kids came in here that night," he said. "And we didn't have a guy at the door that night."

Donahue said they normally try to check identification at the door of the bar, and that they have a card reader that can pick up about 90 percent of the fake identification cards that are issued.

"Kids are able to purchase unbelievable fake IDs"

"But make no mistake," he said. "Kids are able to purchase unbelievable fake IDs. Our clientele is mostly 40 and over, but the kids are home from college and we have got to be watching out for that."

While there was no one checking identification at the door that night, Donahue said "we carded the kids at the bar."

"We go to an incredible effort to check. Let me tell you, it's something we really go above and beyond. But it's just the nature of the beast. It is summer and yes they come in. We just have to watch it."


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.