More violence at East Main Street ‘bar’: Man stabbed, sent to Stony Brook for surgery for internal injuries

There was more violence at the Royale Dorado Bar at 1005 E. Main St.

Police are on the hunt for an unknown Hispanic man who stabbed another man at the bar shortly before 2 a.m. today.

Riverhead police officers responded to a report of a disturbance at the establishment — where early last Saturday morning a man was cut in the face by a beer bottle hurled at him by another patron and where in May a man was stabbed during a brawl in the parking lot.

This week’s victim left the bar but was later located at his residence, police said. He told officers he had been stabbed in the abdomen by an unknown man. He was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital, where he underwent surgery for internal injuries, police said.

The investigation is ongoing and anyone that may have witnessed the incident is requested to call the Riverhead Police Department at (631) 727-4500.

Police made an arrest in last week’s incident, charging Diego Abrego, 23, with assault in the second degree. They sought the public’s help to find the person responsible in the May stabbing outside the bar, but have not yet announced any arrest in that case.

Supervisor Sean Walter, who serves as Riverhead Police Commissioner, said the establishment will be subject to an increased level of scrutiny both from police and from his office, in light of what appears to be a pattern of violence there.

“We’re not going to tolerate this in the Town of Riverhead. We didn’t tolerate it at Casa Rica and we’re not going to tolerate it here,” he said in a phone interview Saturday evening.

Casa Rica Sports Bar, which was located at 65 E. Main St., had its liquor license summarily suspended in November 2010 by the State Liquor Authority, which was already moving to permanently revoke the license. Citing six altercations in the year prior to the suspension, including a machete attack and a stabbing resulting in serious injuries, the SLA commissioners deemed the history serious enough to warrant immediate summary action. Before the agency could begin the hearing, however, the operator surrendered its license rather than attempt to defend revocation charges.

“We were prepared to present testimony from 21 police officers about incidents there,” Walter said today. “We had officers posted there every week. Given what’s been happening here, we will be watching this establishment very closely as well. This just won’t be tolerated,” he said.

Royal Dorado is operating at the former site of Gallo Seafood Market. Walter said, without checking town records, he was not sure whether the establishment has the necessary use permit from the town to operate a bar there.

Santos A, Vanegas, principal in D.A.P. Inc., was issued a license by the State Liquor Authority to sell beer and wine for on-premises consumption in conjunction with a restaurant. The license, issued Oct. 1, 2013, is valid through Sept. 30, 2015.