Liquor board hears police report showing ID-check lapses at District 64 and manager warning at Side Street Grill

At a Sept. 1 Liquor Control Board meeting, the Fargo Police Department reported that investigators found instances of patrons entering District 64 without bouncers checking identification and that officers later arrested a wanted person at Side Street Grill after a manager appeared to warn the individual. The police presentation matters because failure to check IDs can expose licensed establishments to criminal liability and public-safety risk, the board said. Captain Troy Hennig, who identified himself as captain of the Professional Standards Division, told the board that while detectives reviewing surveillance footage of an Aug. 3 shooting investigation, they “observed him going into District 64 at around 12:24 a.m.” Hennig said investigators know the person in the footage to be 20 years of age and that the club’s bouncer did not check his ID. He added that detectives found other instances when “five to eight patrons” entered without ID checks. When a commissioner asked about follow-up, Hennig said officers tried to issue citations but “weren’t able to make contact with either the owner or the bouncer. To my understanding, the bouncer actually is no longer employed there. So they are pursuing charges through a long form complaint on that.” Hennig also described an unrelated Aug. 16 incident at Side Street Grill: officers responded to a report of a wanted person and made contact with the manager, who initially said the person was not present. Hennig said officers later saw the manager approach the person and then officers arrested the individual on outstanding warrants. Board members asked clarifying questions about next steps and enforcement. No formal board action was taken; the police report was received for the record. The board’s discussion underscored two enforcement issues: (1) ensuring that licensed security staff check patron IDs at point of entry and (2) the department’s process for pursuing licensing-related citations when proprietors or staff are unreachable. Hennig said the department is pursuing charges via long-form complaint where appropriate and will continue to investigate. The board did not vote on any changes to licensing policy at the meeting. Board members and staff indicated they expect continued follow-up from police on both the District 64 compliance review and the Side Street Grill arrest. — Reporting for this article is based on the Liquor Control Board meeting transcript in which Captain Troy Hennig presented the police monthly report.