Trotter American Legion shut down in wake of shooting
Roberto M. Esquivel|Herald-Standard
During a press conference Tuesday morning Fayette County District Attorney Rich Bower announce the closing of American Legion Post #762 as a result of its long history as a nuisance bar.
Above: American Legion Post 762 in Trotter has been closed as a result of its long history as a nuisance bar.
Left: Fayette County District Attorney Rich Bower speaks about the closing of American Legion Post 762 due to history of violence and illegal activity. Pictured with Bower are Lt. Jeff Fisher (left) and Capt. Harry Keffer of the Pennsylvania state police.
Roberto M. Esquivel
|Herald-Standard
The Trotter American Legion was called a nuisance bar and ordered to shut down, according to District Attorney Rich Bower.
The American Legion Post 762 in Connellsville was closed in the wake of about two decades of violence, Bower said at a press conference Tuesday.
Three men were arrested after a melee and shooting at the American Legion in March.
Daylon McLee, 26, of Uniontown is awaiting trial after he allegedly pointed a gun at a trooper March 20. The trooper fired a shot at McLee and missed. Dustyn Grogan, 25, of Stahlstown and Brian Craggette are awaiting trial on weapons charges.
“This matter was the latest incident in a long list of incidents involving this post,” Bower said.
A stack of papers about 2-inches thick listed incidents at the legion.
Bower said criminal activity included fights with weapons, drug activity, large crowds resisting police, sexual activity in the parking lot, shots fired and attacks that resulted in broken bones.
In 1997, Vaughn William Stevenson, then 29, of Beltsville, Maryland, was charged with shooting and killing Lisa Renee Mickens, 27, of Connellsville in the parking lot.
He was convicted and sentenced to 10 to 30 years in prison.
Mickens’ family sued the Legion, contending that staff continued serving Stevenson alcohol when he was visibly intoxicated.
“It’s just a place where individuals get extremely rowdy and like to do some crazy things,” Bower said. “It’s a shame.”
He said neighbors reported finding guns in their yards and felt scared to go outside.
The state American Legion Department Adjutant Kit Watson said there will be a meeting in about two weeks to inform members of the decision and determine if it could be reopened.
He said legion members must keep the mission “forefront” to continue operations and run a good business without “haphazard operations.”
“The purpose of the American Legion is always to be an asset to a community, and when it fails to do that, things need to be reassessed,” he said.
Watson said the Legion formed several baseball teams and held Memorial Day services and other patriotic observances. He said the Legion kept the premises well maintained.
“This was a response that was needed to give the community the assurance that we were responsible as far as an American Legion, and also send a message to members that you’re not all there by yourself. You have ‘American Legion’ on the building,” he said.
A second bar, Aunt Jean’s in Masontown, will also be shut down as a nuisance bar, Bower said. He said the Liquor Control Enforcement called his office about closing the bar Tuesday morning.
Donavin Lendall Williams Moore, 23, of Masontown is awaiting trial on attempted homicide and other charges for the alleged March 25 shooting in the bar parking lot.