Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” - Martin Luther King, Jr.

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Cops kicked out of local restaurant; owner later apologizes



The owner of Isy Bell's restaurant has issued a Facebook apology for apparently kicking three Mooresville police detectives out of his establishment during lunch yesterday.

“I am deeply sorry for the words that I spoke,” reads a statement that Owner Mike Kabouris posted on Isy Bells' Facebook page earlier this afternoon. “I welcome all detectives and officers into my establishment. The world needs more people like you to protect our community.”

Calling the incident a “misunderstanding,” Kabouris' statement continued: “Isy Bell's Cafe welcomes all law enforcement and has the utmost respect for you.”

But apparently, officers haven't felt welcomed or respected by Kabouris for quite some time. Of yesterday's incident, Mooresville Police Chief Carl Robbins said: “I don't know the story behind his reasoning, but I have known for a long time that he does not care for us.”

While the detectives themselves aren't speaking officially about what happened, Facebook has been abuzz the past 24 hours with statuses and messages about yesterday's incident, some of them speculating that Kabouris is angry at local law-enforcement officers because of the September arrest of his son for speeding to elude arrest.

Kabouris wasn't available for comment at Isy Bell's this afternoon.

“In all fairness to him,” said Robbins, “I don't know if his displeasure is directed toward all law enforcement or just the Mooresville Police Department.”

Robbins said police officers must understand that “some people will not like us as law-enforcement officers for a variety of reasons.” However, he said, “We have to accept this and continue to treat everyone with respect and fairness.

“As a business owner, (Kabouris) can make decisions that we may not agree with, but we need to respect them and stay above the fray as professional police officers.”

Robbins said Kabouris has not called him to complain or to ban officers from Isy Bell's in general.

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm developing an attitude about the local law enforcement. I have noticed drug activity in broad daylight right outside our house. This usually involves a guy (and this is not a bad neighborhood either) standing out on the curb until a car pulls up then there is a quick exchange. I have seen this over and over and reported it, including once when he is sitting on the curb waiting. We are not all that far from the station even.

This may have been a case of someone telling them to get out there and do their job. I've had people tell me that they've tried to report things only to be rebuffed. Guess Mooresville is therefore, crime free.

Anonymous said...

Oh, boy, here we go! Who will get bashed first?

Anonymous said...

Not surprised at the owner's demeanor in general. He doesn't even apologize appropriately for the horrible food he has been serving. (It has been months since my family has patronized that establishment and will not go in there again.) I am sorry the detectives had to endure such treatment. Our town's law enforcement is to be commended for what I have experienced as being kind, considerate and professional.

LEO said...

Some have suggested Jaime Gatton is not a friend to law enforcement. I hope this settles it.

Ricky nine fingers said...

Emails what emails? It is not what it looks like....honest Sheriff.

Jaime Gatton said...

Just FYI, I may be overlooking it, but it appears as though the written apology has now been removed from the Isy Bell's Facebook page.

Anonymous said...

If he said it he meant it. My family will never go there again and I hope that everyone tells people what kind of man he is.

Anonymous said...

I can't find the facebook page at all.

Anonymous said...

I have never set foot in the place but it's my understanding that he feeds people for free on Thanksgiving and I don't know when else. This is not the gesture of a bad person so I'm sure there is another side to the story.

Jaime, the FB page is down.

LEO, even you have to admit that the profession is not exactly one with 100% clean hands in this county. Sheriff Redmond and Deputy Jenkins ring a bell? How about the disgraced late police chief?

God knows, we have plenty of local officials who are jerks. Erskine Smith, anyone? He just got himself a big old bonus. That bother any of y'all? It does me and I'd throw his fat backside out of my eatery if I ran one. Most places reserve the right to refuse service to anyone for any reason.

Perhaps the detectives in question gave some sort of offense? We have yet to hear both sides of the story.

I think we may stop into Isy Bell's tomorrow for something to eat. No one deserves to be shamed until all the truth comes out.

Anonymous said...

channel 36 is going to get to the bottom of it at 11.

LEO said...

10:35 if the owner didn't do anything wrong he would not have apologized.

As far as Redmond and Jenkins, I agree with you. They both need to be served a nice warm bowl of morality.

Anonymous said...

The owner does not like the police because they arrested his son in September after he was involved in a high speed pursuit. The officers did nothing other than go in and sit down expecting to get something to eat.

Anonymous said...

Why is it that every time an article gets posted here, it becomes about Sheriff Redmond? If Jamie were to write a story about about a meteorite crashing into the Indian Ocean, somehow you idiots would blame Sheriff Redmond.

Anonymous said...

OMG, 1:59, Go Redmond, is that you? You finally out of jail?

LEO, people apologize all the time to salvage their businesses and other things. I've had to apologize when I know I did nothing wrong because some drunk got it in his head that I cut in line in front of him at Food Lion and rather than make a scene, I said, sorry and let him go ahead and buy more beer. I'm sure he thought he could push a woman around so he did. He's lucky I didn't get out to get his plate number to turn him in for drunk driving.

Anyone with elderly parents or in-laws knows about apologizing for no damn reason whatsoever. I do it all the time.

Anonymous said...

Cops lie and feel entitled. As a retired cop I am well aware of this.

Larry Coover said...

Haven't looked through here in awhile. Reading over the comments reminded me how much I would like to see the GR eliminate the anonymous option like the R&L did. The R&L requires a Facebook account, good idea. If you are willing to say it, you need to be willing to stand behind it.

Anonymous said...

thurau male ohio relationships dating single http://loveepicentre.com/ cartoon dating quiz

Unknown said...

For those of you who are bringing up Redmond and Jenkins,GOOD.You need to keep talking about it, you need to ask "when will the case be brought to court?"My name is Britt Walden.5 years ago while in the Co. jail on False charges my home at 294 Tennessee Circle was set-afire,it was Christmas morning.I was ask to come out of my cage. Det. Andy Poteet walks up to me and says, "i hate to be the bearer of bad news, but your house is on fire and your girlfriend is DEAD.He puts me away until Christmas night.I am let out,the next morning I go to my house,there is hole burnt through the wall at kitchen table,2 panals removed from under house at hole,motion-detector turned down, eye-bolt removed from post holding chain across driveway,hole in floor under table,I knew my home had been set-afire,and my lifelong friend,girlfriend,a special person in my life had been Murdered.I met Robin White when I was 21,she 17.I go over to neighbors house,Don& Barbara Sherrill,they are nervous they will only say,"You need to go up to the Sheriffs office and find out what those officers were doing over there",they would say nothing else.The cover-up is underway.I go home,call friend Paul Hutchinson,get to my house quick, he shows up,we call Fire Marshals office,3 times I tell, i need a fire marshal&detective at my house,3 times they refuse, take me through my house by phone.Unheard of!Have any of you ever heard of this happening to the Homeowner?30 days later,not 1 person or agency involved have spoken to me, Paul and I get hold of E-Comm Emer.Communications tape recording& CAD-Report. There are 6 calls on tape&report.Call 5,I am in Jail,Suicide Threat"Fabricated" 3 deputies sent to my home alone,NO EMS,In my home with Robin alone for 81 minutes,404-Scott Hilton 352-Zane Lambert 353-Van Johnson,stolen 5 boxes,2 cell phs. never tracked, Robins jewelry box in fire "Empty"my knife gone, 80 valium,material from boxes put under kitchen table set-afire, and Robin White has been "Cooked Alive" I lost Robin, my home,my job,insurance, my peace of mind,my feel of being safe,in less than 18 hrs. Suffered a heart attack.I again am asking Miss Gatton,I am asking those of you who "LOG" on, to ask Miss Gatton, to meet with me. None of YOU or Miss Gatton will ever read or hear of a fire,where a citizen lost their life and so little concern shown for that loss.Today 5 yrs. later Britt Walden doesn't even know for "FACT" where Robins body was found. I was born here in 1956 and have done nothing to NO ONE, my LIFE TURNED UPSIDE DOWN. If Anybody knows anything about the officers in my house I need to KNOW. 704-450-0049