“After nine years of being treated like this, it’s hard for me to get up here and tell it in five or 10 minutes,” said Robert McRae, owner of Rob’s Lounge and Grill just one block over from Town Hall.
He gave accounts of his business being targeted and harassed by various law enforcement agencies, including the North Carolina Highway Patrol, the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control and the Richmond County Sheriff’s Department.
“Anyone could see it,” said McRae’s wife Iris of the way they say the Sheriff’s Department has recently singled out Rob’s Lounge. “If Ray Charles was alive, even he would be able to see it.”
The McCraes said theirs is the only black-owned business with a liquor license in Richmond County, and they have made $558,822 in local, county and state-taxed revenue since obtaining the license in 2001.
According to the couple, as soon as they opened up the private nightclub for business at 10 p.m. on the first Saturday of this month, Sheriff’s deputies began cruising by every one to three minutes.
The McRaes said there is never such a law enforcement presence in the area on other nights of the week. Others at the meeting agreed. By their observations, the sheriff’s department is cracking down on them the one night that they do business - the first Saturday of the month.
McRae had spoken out against lack of police protection at a previous town meeting. In response, Richmond County Sherriff Dale Furr announced last month that deputies had volunteered to work off the clock to help out in Dobbins Heights and all over the county.
According to McRae, they are pretty much just targeting his business instead of getting to the root of the larger problem in Dobbins Heights. He attributes this to long-standing personal issues between Furr and himself nine years ago. Ever since then, he says it’s been personal.
“No white bar in Richmond County has been through what I’ve been through,” said McRae, who added “What they’re looking for ain’t at Rob’s.”
McRae has sent a letter detailing his various law enforcement issues to Sen. Kay Hagen, Congressman Larry Kissell, Governor Bev Perdue, State Representative Melanie Wade Goodwin, and the colonel of the Highway Patrol.
He said this all hit home that Saturday night when he saw a sheriff’s deputy parked at Monroe Garden Apartments that Saturday night. The apartments are up the road from his place, but in plain sight.
Because blue lights and liquor sales don’t mix, McRae said he went to confront the deputy, and found him in the car asleep. He then got back into his truck and blew the horn until the man woke up.
“That may sound strange, but imagine what could have happened to me if I had gone up and tapped on the window,” said McRae, who added that he could have surprised the deputy and gotten shot. “It hit me that they would have had to tell my wife her husband was laying over there dead. I went to pick my son up from college, and I realized somebody would have had to tell him ‘Boy, your daddy is dead.’”
Furr confirmed Thursday afternoon that he declined an invitation to attend Thursday night’s meeting because he said McRae is “an idiot,” and Furr feels like the people of Richmond County realize that. “If you’re running a legitimate business, we should be the least of your worries. If you aren’t, we’ll be your worst nightmare.”
He has said many times that McRae either wants law enforcement over there or he doesn’t. But he can’t have it both ways.
“I’ve turned plenty of beer joints into churches in my time as sheriff,” said Furr. “I’m thinking Dobbins Heights may be in need of another church.”
A non-governmental community meeting was arranged for May 31 at 6p.m. at Rob’s Lounge and Grill for Dobbins Heights citizens to discuss the issue.
“No one loves this little town more than I do,” said McRae, as his voice broke and he began to tear up. “Anytime you said ‘We need,’ I gave. I’m not being treated fair. It’s not right.”
Mayor Pro-Tem Gracie Jackson was a supporter.
“We know Mr. McRae has been an inspiration to this community. He has given a lot of money to events like the Easter Egg Hunt so that they can be a success for the children,” said Jackson. “We certainly enjoy having him in this community.”
Jackson said she would be the first one to step out.
“I am a churchgoing citizen, Sunday School teacher, and I sing in the choir. I have been to Rob’s place and I didn’t do anything there that I wouldn’t do in my own home,” said Jackson. “It’s not where you go. It’s what you do.”
Jackson was also outspoken about her displeasure with the Golden LEAF steering committee’s pick of the top three projects to fund. A new trash truck for Dobbins Heights came in at number four.
“(Town Clerk Mary Magee and myself) didn’t feel good about it. We felt like it was time for Dobbins Heights to get something,” said Jackson.
The council voted unanimously to ask the Richmond County Board of Commissioners for $120,000 for a new garbage truck. Council members agreed that they get everything used, and they don’t want to do that this time.
“We might know we aren’t going to get it, but we’ll let them know we’re alive at least,” said Jackson.
Other new business included the announcement that the 75 percent of the town’s sewer project is almost complete, aside from one individual issue in front of Jackson’s house that may require backtracking. The town is pursuing funding for the remaining 25 percent.
I spent a lot of time in bars in the earlier part of my life, and I don't ever remember a night I didn't see cops. In addition, I don't remember too many nights that didn't require cops to break up a fight or haul off a disorderly drunk.
If you own a bar, it comes with the territory of owning a bar to expect cops to drive around. I would think any bar owner would be happy to know the cops are there to make sure the clients who aren't breaking the law are safe!
LIQUOR BARS = CRIMINAL ACTIVITY
Mr McRae admits it personal with the Sheriff so its hard to believe anything he says after that point. But it looks like the Sheriff look like the looser here because of his unprofessional and cocky comments