PORT ANGELES — Law officers said they were met by an “unruly” crowd at the New Peking Restaurant and Lounge while investigating a report of a man threatening patrons with a handgun.
Clallam County Sheriff’s Sgt. Randy Piper said the bar at 2416 E. U.S. Highway 101 closed early for the night at about 12:30 a.m. Saturday after some patrons started threatening officers and throwing objects, such as water bottles, at them when the officers arrived with guns drawn.
“We encountered a large unruly crowd outside and inside,” Piper said.
“We had to disperse the crowd . . . because they were noncompliant, drunken and disorderly.
“It was almost at a riot stage.”
Piper said the sheriff’s office requested the owner of the bar close for the night while it conducted its investigation.
No force was needed to induce the patrons to leave, he said.
Piper said the patrons were “not happy” about being told to leave early. “They said more taunts and threats and finally they left,” he said.
Based on the 9-1-1 call and witness testimony, Piper said officers confirmed that a man did threaten patrons with a handgun inside the bar.
Justin Joseph Bryles, 21, of Port Angeles, a convicted felon, was arrested outside the Clallam County Public Utility District main office nearby.
He was booked on investigation of unlawful possession of a firearm, having a weapon in a tavern and aiming a dangerous weapon after leaving the scene, he said.
New Peking owner Kevin Fong said he was in the bar at the time and didn’t see a person threatening anyone with a handgun.
Owner’s account differs
Piper said that wouldn’t surprise him, based on the size of the bar.
Fong said some of his patrons outside didn’t react favorably to the arrival of the officers, armed with rifles and shotguns, but he wouldn’t describe them as being unruly.
“It was a good crowd,” he said.
Fong said anyone who causes a fight is not allowed back into his bar.
“We don’t want any of this ever happening,” he said.
According to the sheriff’s office, Bryles allegedly pulled a 9 mm handgun from his waistband shortly after midnight during an argument with wother patrons.
No shots were fired.
The “scuffle,” Piper said, found its way outside where someone was able to get the gun away from Bryles.
Police recovered the gun from a friend of Bryles, he said.
It was unknown what prompted the argument.
Piper said Bryles had two warrants out for him at the time of his arrest: one for possession of marijuana and another for a “minor operating a vehicle with alcohol involved.”
About 16 officers from the sheriff’s office and the Port Angeles, Sequim and Lower Elwha Klallam police departments responded to the call, he said.
This incident wasn’t the first time police have been called to the bar because of a report of someone brandishing a handgun.
In August, police said an argument led to a man shooting a gun at patrons outside the bar.
No one was injured.
A Seattle man was later arrested on investigation of the attempted shooting.
Fong said the incident on Saturday was the first time someone has drawn a gun at his bar since he purchased it in 1985.
In December, police arrived at the bar with guns drawn after a phony call came over police radio saying that there was a “police-involved shooting.”
There was no indication that the fake report originated at the bar.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.