Boston police body camera footage shows officers breaking up a private party at Bar Estella in Boston that police said involved alcohol, marijuana and exotic dancers, the night after the New England Patriots’ AFC championship victory.
Police responded after receiving a complaint of loud music at Bar Estella on a Tuesday night in late January. An employee told officers there were about 25 players downstairs as the celebration was underway.
In sworn testimony to Boston’s Licensing Board, officers described what they found when they went to the basement.
Bodycam footage of police walking into the basement.{ }
“Officers made their way to the basement and could immediately smell the odor of hookah and marijuana emulating from the basement,” an officer testified. “Officer Lee observed numerous exotic dancers immediately exiting out the back doors as soon as the officers arrived. Upon walking around the basement officers observed a plethora of $1 bills spread throughout the floor.”
Officers also testified that “officers entered the back stairwell and saw the dancers standing with Estella security.”
Police said bar management denied knowing about hookahs or marijuana. One officer is heard saying, “There are like six hookahs downstairs.”
Following the inspection, police issued the bar multiple violations. In the footage, an officer is heard explaining, “There are violations, including drinking after-hours no liquor after 2 apparently there were nude dancers that left out the back there is no license for that.”
Bar Estella received a one-day suspension of its license because of the party.
Bodycam footage of police walking into the basement.{ }
During last week’s hearing, the bar’s owner, Helder George Brandau, blamed the players’ “entitlement” while also accepting responsibility.
“This is an issue of trusting people and a relationship, these are entitled people,” Brandau said. “its on us, it’s our duty to get them out but it’s more of a bad situation we put ourselves in by even accepting them in.”
Brandau said he still takes full responsibility and that he and his staff are working to make sure it does not happen again.
The New England Patriots did not comment.
National Headline
