Emergency license suspension issued for Pauly’s Nightclub in Stevenson

OLYMPIA -- The Washington State Liquor Control Board (WSLCB) Wednesday issued an emergency liquor license suspension of up to 180 days for Pauly’s Nightclub LLC, located at 47 SW Russell Ave. Suite B in Stevenson, Wash. The suspension is effective for 180 days beginning June 4, 2014, through Nov. 30, 2014. During that time, the WSLCB will seek revocation of the license.

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 2014. The WSLCB issued two in 2013.

The emergency suspension is the result of evidence provided to the WSLCB of criminal activity conducted on the licensed premise by the licensee Paul A. Cengric.

On four occasions between Feb. 16, 2014, and May 18, 2014, the licensee and a bartender allegedly delivered a controlled substance, cannabis, to an informant working under the Skamania County Sheriff’s Office. Three of the four controlled buys occurred on the licensed liquor premises.

On May 22, 2014, WSLCB enforcement officers responded to Pauly’s Nightclub at the request of the Skamania County Sheriff’s Office to assist in the service of a search warrant for delivery of a controlled substance.

Based on the nature and extent of the alleged criminal activity by the licensee and employee, the WSLCB is seeking an immediate suspension (180 days) of the licensee’s liquor license to be followed by an administrative proceeding seeking revocation of the liquor license.