Proprietor of common Cape Cod restaurant accused of utilizing racial slurs throughout confrontation

The proprietor of the favored Cape Cod restaurant Dealer Ed’s is beneath investigation after a video surfaced on-line of a person utilizing racial slurs and performing aggressively towards one other man.

“Barnstable Police Chief Matthew Sonnabend and Cape & Islands District Lawyer Robert Galibois introduced as we speak that they’re investigating a matter broadly reported by media retailers and on social media platforms allegedly involving the proprietor of a neighborhood enterprise generally known as Dealer Ed’s,” regulation enforcement officers stated in an announcement Tuesday. “The Barnstable Police Division and the Cape & Islands District Lawyer’s Workplace acknowledge the group’s curiosity in pursuing this matter and can present an replace on the conclusion of the investigation.”

Within the video, posted to Fb and circulated on different social media platforms, a person may be seen stepping up shut to a different man on a sidewalk and saying, “Are you aware who I’m? Get the (expletive) out of my city … You employ my identify once more, you’ll find yourself in a grave. You employ my identify once more, you’ll find yourself in a grave.”

The person making the threats has been recognized as Dealer Ed’s John Shea by WCVB and The Cape Cod Instances.

Later, the person being confronted may be heard asking, “You’re going to name me the N-word?” to which the person, reportedly Shea, replies “I simply referred to as you the N-word … Since you act like one.”

On the finish of the video, the person recognized as Shea may be heard utilizing the racial slur itself.

He may also be seen stepping on the opposite man’s foot, to which the opposite man says, “Don’t step on my foot, that’s assault.”

Barnstable Police didn’t reply to a request for extra info Tuesday.

Shea is the proprietor of Dealer Ed’s, a waterfront restaurant on Arlington Road in Hyannis, in keeping with WCVB and a 2016 Soiled Water Media YouTube video. Representatives from the restaurant didn’t reply to a request for remark Tuesday.

Millyan Phillips, a 24-year-old from Medford who identifies as Jamaican and Armenian, instructed the Instances that he was the individual confronted.

Phillips and a few associates had gone to Dealer Ed’s earlier within the night for dinner and drinks earlier than deciding to take a automobile service to Embargo, a restaurant on Principal Road in Hyannis. Simply earlier than their automobile arrived, Phillips noticed Shea stroll into Dealer Ed’s and order a cocktail, he instructed the Instances. The automobile Shea had arrived in was nonetheless operating and was parked sideways, he stated. Phillips stated that he and his associates referred to as 911 with considerations that Shea might be consuming and driving.

Later within the night, the group observed Shea stroll into Embargo and order extra alcohol, in keeping with the Instances. Barnstable Law enforcement officials had been exterior for an unrelated incident, and Phillips reportedly approached them to reiterate considerations about the potential of Shea driving drunk. 

About 10 minutes later, as Phillips and his associates had been ready for a trip exterior Embargo, Shea got here out of the restaurant asking, “The place’s (a racist slur) from Boston?” he instructed the Instances. The taped confrontation ensued. 

Phillips instructed the Instances that Embargo bouncers ultimately took Shea into the institution, and police later let him depart through a automobile service.

“I needed to press expenses however police stated none of what Shea stated was grounds to take action,” he stated.

The Fb video has greater than 130 feedback and has been shared greater than 80 instances. Most of the feedback are from outraged individuals calling for a boycott of Dealer Ed’s. As of Tuesday afternoon, group posts on the restaurant’s Yelp web page had been disabled. 

“This enterprise just lately obtained elevated public consideration leading to an inflow of individuals posting their views to this web page,” the discover reads. “Whereas racism has no place on Yelp and we unequivocally reject racism or discrimination in any type, all evaluations on Yelp should mirror an precise first-hand client expertise.”