Emergency license suspension issued for Wenatchee’s Smokers Paradise

For Immediate Release                                                                                             May 9, 2012

OLYMPIA -- The Washington State Liquor Control Board (WSLCB) today issued an emergency liquor license suspension of up to 180 days for Smokers Paradise, located at 307 Ferry Street, Wenatchee, WA. The suspension is effective for 180 days beginning May 9, 2012. During that time, the WSLCB will seek revocation of the license.

The emergency suspension is the result of evidence provided to the WSLCB, by the Columbia River Drug Task Force (CRDTF), East Wenatchee Police Department, Wenatchee Police Department and Chelan County Sheriff’s office, of substantial criminal activity conducted on the licensed premises by Smokers Paradise management. This activity is represented by an extensive violation history within a very short period of time, less than sixteen months.

Public safety violation history
WSLCB enforcement officers look at the past two years of an establishment’s violation history when determining a recommended penalty for a violation. The following are the Public Safety Administrative Violation Notices related to Smokers Paradise’s license suspension. All hearing requests for the listed violations are currently pending.

• The WSLB issued three separate administrative violation notices related to controlled substance sales. The violations are of WAC 314-11-015 Engaging in, or permitting conduct on the licensed premises, that is prohibited by the Uniform Controlled Substances Act, Title 69.50.401(1).
• The WSLCB issued two administrative violation notices related to possession/trafficking of stolen property and unlawful check issuance. The violation is of WAC 314-11-015 Engaging in, or permitting conduct on the licensed premises, that is prohibited by the state’s criminal code Title 9A and/or Title 9.

Emergency suspensions represent an extraordinary exercise of the state’s power and the WSLCB is mandated to ensure that an emergency suspension is reasonable, justifiable and legal in every way. The WSLCB has issued no other emergency suspensions in 2012. The WSLCB issued one in 2011, two in 2010 and two in 2009.

To obtain Smokers Paradise’s detailed two-year violation history, the complaint and emergency suspension order please make a public records request. Email: publicrecords@lcb.wa.gov

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Addendum to Smokers Paradise Emergency Suspension Release

AVN 4G2045A, Conduct Violation, March 16, 2011
• Violation of WAC 314-11-015(3)(e) – Engaging in or permitting conduct on the licensed premise that is prohibited by Title 69 RCW, to wit: delivery of Marijuana, contrary to RCW 69.50.401 (1);
• Violation of WAC 314-11-015(3)(e) – Engaging in or permitting conduct on the licensed premise that is prohibited by Title 9A and Title 69 RCW, to wit: conspiracy to unlawfully possess a controlled substance, hydrocodone, contrary to 9A.28.040(1); RCW 69.50.4013(1).
AVN 4G2045B, Conduct Violation, March 11, 2011
• Violation of WAC 314-11-015(3)(e) – Engaging in or permitting conduct prohibited by Title 9A RCW, to wit: unlawful issuance of checks or drafts, contrary to RCW 9A.56.060.
AVN 4G2045C, Conduct Violation, July 15, 2011
• Two separate violations of WAC 314-11-015(3)(e) – Engaging in or permitting conduct on the licensed premise that is prohibited by Title 69 RCW, to wit: delivery of controlled substance, 3, 4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV, aka “bath salts”), contrary to RCW 69.50.401(1);
• Violation of WAC 314-11-015(3)(e) – Engaging in or permitting conduct on the licensed premise that is prohibited by Title 9 RCW, to wit; unlawful possession of a firearm, contrary to 9.41.040(1)(a).
AVN 4G2045D, Conduct Violation, October 13, 2011
• Violation of WAC 314-11-015(3)(e) – Engaging in or permitting conduct prohibited by Title 9A RCW, to wit: possession of stolen property, contrary to RCW 9A.56.170.
AVN 4G2080A, Conduct Violation, March 1, 2012
• Three separate violations of WAC 314-11-015(3)(e) – Engaging in or permitting conduct on the licensed premise that is prohibited by Title 69 RCW, to wit: delivery of controlled substance, 3, 4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV, aka “bath salts”), contrary to RCW 69.50.401(1)

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