Slog
News & ArtsThursday, April 8, 2010
Crime Caffe Vita Owner Charged with Assault, Hit and Run, and DUI
Posted by Cienna Madrid on Thu, Apr 8, 2010 at 11:30 AM
The Seattle City Attorney's office has filed charges against Seattle business owner Michael McConnell—owner of Caffé Vita and an investor in the Crocodile in Belltown—after he allegedly rear-ended a stopped car with his Mercedes near the Seattle University campus. McConnell then allegedly attacked the driver of the other vehicle and fled the scene.
Jonah has the scoop at SeattleCrime.com:
Both drivers pulled off of the road but, the report says, but McConnell refused to give the victim his information. The report notes the victim smelled alcohol on McConnell's breath.McConnell's attorney—who was driving another vehicle behind McConnell—tried to intervene, the police report says, and told the victim "they would give him $1,500 to pay for the vehicle damages and not call police."
McConnel then "refused to pay any money," the report says, and walked away from the scene. According to the report, McConnell returned a short time later, grabbed the victim, and punched him "with both fists in the chest." McConnell then walked off toward the Seattle University campus, leaving his Mercedes at the scene. [...]
Seattle police arrested McConnell a short while later at Via Tribunali—which he also owns—and transported him to the East Precinct, where, the police report notes, McConnell refused a breathalyzer test.
SeattleCrime also notes that "a conviction for DUI could potentially affect McConnell's [liquor] licenses."
McConnell owns both the Caffe Vita and Via Tribunali chains, co-owns the Pike Street Fish Fry, and has stakes in Vellotti Pizza (which has yet to open), the Capitol Hill Block Party, and the Crocodile Cafe.
2
I'm just sayin - Via Tribulani isn't that great, and horribly over-priced. It's effing pizza, kiddos! The only thing worse is Galleria's "Fine" Mexican dining. Fine dining + Mexican = bullshit.
6
@4
Part of life is dealing with the fact that drunk drivers are on the road. It is your responsibility to not get hit. Not theirs.
Part of life is dealing with the fact that drunk drivers are on the road. It is your responsibility to not get hit. Not theirs.
8
Vita is good, but not good enough to continue going there in light of this news. I used to rotate between Stumptown, Vita and Vivace, but now I'll limit myself to Stumptown and Vivace. Why give my money to a drunken asshole?
9
The Cafe Vita staff pissed me off years ago while having a sushi dinner at Maneki. They were there for a staff party in one of the tatami rooms next to us. Not only were they drunk and obnoxious, but were incredibly rude when we asked them to politely refrain from using foul language in a restaurant. They pissed me off so much... that I pissed on their van.
11
@6 Bull. If he is behind the wheel he is responsible for anything that happens re his vehicle. Sounds like he's such a dick even the presence of his attorney can't get him to do the right thing.
12
This is a man who very quickly needs to realize that he could foolishly throw away his good fortune for booze. It is not worth it.
13
Ouch, and just when he was building a bar right next door to Vita.
Guess that permit is going in the round-file now...
Guess that permit is going in the round-file now...
15
Um, @11 you haven't been on SLOG very long, have you?
That's just Mr. Poe. He tries to be all in-yer-face & uber-cynical, but he's really a sweetheart in person - although he'll probably say something nasty about me for saying so.
That's just Mr. Poe. He tries to be all in-yer-face & uber-cynical, but he's really a sweetheart in person - although he'll probably say something nasty about me for saying so.
19
When penalties got harsher, the smarter would-be drunk drivers found other ways to enjoy being sloppy. Those drunk on the road these days are the ignoramuses and egomaniacs and the lucky few like this fellow who are both.
22
May Mr. Poe be the next pedestrian killed by a drunk driver. Better yet, may he live a long post-crash life horribly crippled and deformed in a permanent state of extreme pain. This will give him time to blame himself for getting hit.
24
Ironic that this news comes the same day as the other restaurant thread, in which the theory that restaurant work is only bearable with world-beating quantities of alcohol.
25
This one time in Florida, swear to God, me and my friends totally hit a homeless guy. It was hilarious.
28
@26
Do you seriously believe anyone would be insulted by being called a fag on this blog? You must be a Catholic or something.
Do you seriously believe anyone would be insulted by being called a fag on this blog? You must be a Catholic or something.
30
@9 wait, no "foul language" in restaurants, but you're proud of pissing on someone's van? winner-y
37
Mr. Poe used to piss me off too, but I think I've finally been coming here long enough to realize just how much I love him. Rich, creamy, bastard-faced love. <3
42
I still count it as a nice feather in my cap that I really, for reals, pissed Mr. Poe off. Good one, me!
46
Sounds like this sorta fella needs to have his lawyer drive for him, not just follow him around town offering bribes to the people he rams.
53
Lloyd the Bartender you fucking idiot. Clydesdale caught a wiff of all progressive Christianity and shameless crying floating around here and bailed for good. Total freakshow.
You're an antique so you have immunity I guess. Propz.
You're an antique so you have immunity I guess. Propz.
54
Mr. Poe's growing impenetrability is the stuff of a post-graduate curriculum. Can it really be too long before Boise State is offering a Poe Studies major?
55
SAGE SAGE SAGE SAGE SAGE SAGE SAGE SAGE SAGE SAGE SAGE SAGE SAGE SAGE SAGE SAGE SAGE SAGE SAGE SAGE SAGE SAGE SAGE SAGE SAGE SAGE SAGE SAGE SAGE SAGE SAGE SAGE SAGE SAGE SAGE SAGE SAGE SAGE SAGE SAGE SAGE SAGE SAGE SAGE SAGE SAGE SAGE SAGE SAGE SAGE SAGE
57
How come some comments get deleted for being off topic, but others are allowed to stay?
Hmmmm.... PIT BULLS! CHIHULY!
Hmmmm.... PIT BULLS! CHIHULY!
59
this guy hits and runs and punches while drunk? fuck him, vita and (overpriced and not too tasty...) tribunali.
uh, this translates to DOUCHEBAG. we will see someone come out of nowhere saying they also got paid off from this guy.
uh, this translates to DOUCHEBAG. we will see someone come out of nowhere saying they also got paid off from this guy.
61
It's now about multiple subjects, including Mr. Poe, who has replaced the Via Tribinali guy as the bigger ass-hole, according to some people, but many think he's kind of hot. As for the Tribinali guy; he is an ass and the pizza at the Capitol Hill place is soggy. Also, thank you to the person who pissed on the van. Very nicely done. Maneki should have thrown them out. It's hard enough coming up with some extra money for a meal out let alone having some asshole's asshole staff ruining it.
62
Mr. Poe AND Jubiliation T. Cornball? It's like Old Home Week down at the farm. But I gotta say, "Boise State", that's a cutting blow. I think you kids have had enough sangria for one night. I don't want to see blood.
66
Nothing more fun than watching the wait staff sit around and bitch about cafe and restaurant owners on a blog....keep it up Sloggers! And make mine a double asshole.....
67
Oh, how I miss seeing mike and his alcoholic lawyer watch their stolen French restaurant bleed to death. All those guys are fucking douches. A dui can really fuck up a booze permit.
68
Drunk driving and leaving the scene should be punished. Regardless if he owns a restaurant or coffee shop. Time to support a different biz on the hill.
72
Did the police happen to find any other substances on him? Maybe under his beanie that covers up his little gremlin gin blossom hair due? What a tool
73
I've been putting up with this asshole at my bar for years now. I'm not surprised, nor is half of Seattle's hospitality industry. Mike is a fucking punk and I hope he gets prosecuted to the maximum.
74
U all passive aggressive people that enjoy writing stupid comments on the internet. U can do this easily but u can't bear a direct confrontation.
75
U are so good at insulting with anonymous name. Why don't you all use your real name? I would like to see if you would still be insulting as much. Yes,he fucked up but are we all perfect? Didn't we all do something wrong in our life? Didn't we all drink too much and do something stupid? Now because this guys owns a business and he is more exposed we are all throwing shit at him. Let's leave him alone and deal with his private life. Come on guys! I don't know him but I eat at his restaurant and I love it. I talked to him a couple of times and he seems a great person to me. Thank u for for the great pizzeria and coffee! I am sure that a lot of people enjoys ur business besides these assholes on this blog.
76
U are so good at insulting with anonymous name. Why don't you all use your real name? I would like to see if you would still be insulting as much. Yes,he fucked up but are we all perfect? Didn't we all do something wrong in our life? Didn't we all drink too much and do something stupid? Now because this guys owns a business and he is more exposed we are all throwing shit at him. Let's leave him alone and deal with his private life. Come on guys! I don't know him but I eat at his restaurant and I love it. I talked to him a couple of times and he seems a great person to me. Thank u for for the great pizzeria and coffee! I am sure that a lot of people enjoys ur business besides these assholes on this blog.
77
@76 I see you have posted your full name as well. What's that one about glass houses and not leaving the door open? Anyway Just because you like the guys pizza doesn't mean its OK for him to assault someone who was involved in an accident with him when he was driving drunk. Yes people do stupid things when they drink and some people find it funny. I do sometimes, but I also know that booze is never an excuse and I take responsibility for my actions when I drink and do stupid things, not hit someone and walk away like a coward.
80
Everyone who works in coffee in Seattle - hell in the World - knows that Mike is a psycho and a douchebag. And everyone knows about his drinking, his drug use and his mafia wanna-be fantasies. To say that no-one is surprised by this news is an understatement. It's been a long time coming. The only surprises are that he didn't try to buy off / threaten the cops and that he didn't have a big bag of coke in his pocket. You reap what you sow motherfucker. You reap what you sow.
81
@78 -- if there was any additional love left for you to claim, you just grabbed it all. Bless you, Mr. Poe.
82
Yeah I've known Mike to drive drunk a LOT! This is a long time comin for sure. I used to work for Vita and at times Mike was gracious and fun to work for, but usually the fun would turn into chaos and embarrassment.
He should go to jail for putting people in danger for his entertainment.
He should go to jail for putting people in danger for his entertainment.
83
I'm not a fan of Mike McConnel. However, this is just one of dozens of DUI cases that happens in the city each night. I don't judge someone who gets popped one time for a fender-bender caused by being drunk-- and neither should you people. Now, I'm not saying that this isn't good SLOG material-- it most certainly is, but I can't help but think about how SO many of you have likely gotten behind the wheel after having a few. Yes, I'm talking to you. Don't lie.
Save the finger-pointing and calling of names for when someone really screws the pooch- a second or third offense (or a fatality, or if they drive through your local comic book store). Seriously guys, take it easy on the schmuck.
Save the finger-pointing and calling of names for when someone really screws the pooch- a second or third offense (or a fatality, or if they drive through your local comic book store). Seriously guys, take it easy on the schmuck.
85
Oh, man! He REFUSED to blow at the police station?!?
That was a huge mistake! You don't have to blow roadside (results aren't legal anyways), but you agree (when you sign your Driver's license) to REVOCATION of driving privileges for a YEAR if you refuse a breath test at a station. It's like a contract. Pooch screwed!
Of course, if he loses his liquor license along with this, he's gonna be pretty sorry about this whole thing. Debt to society paid.
That was a huge mistake! You don't have to blow roadside (results aren't legal anyways), but you agree (when you sign your Driver's license) to REVOCATION of driving privileges for a YEAR if you refuse a breath test at a station. It's like a contract. Pooch screwed!
Of course, if he loses his liquor license along with this, he's gonna be pretty sorry about this whole thing. Debt to society paid.
86
#83 .. the big deal is that Mr McConnell is financially involved in establishments that serve liquor and in this state getting a DUI is a big deal if you are in possession of a liquor license. Additionally he assaulted the driver and then left the scene of an accident (he fled). I'm sure his investors are thrilled.
Sure ton's of people get DUI's and their stories aren't posted on line .. but then again tons of people cheat on their wives with escorts but they aren't Tiger Woods.. so we never hear about them either! Maybe it's not fair, but that's how it works.
That said Mike is sort of a known jerk, bully, druggie, drunk, whose only "friends" seem to be his attorney and others who work for him ... so, I'm guessing he is a bit over due for a bit of karmic retribution
Sure ton's of people get DUI's and their stories aren't posted on line .. but then again tons of people cheat on their wives with escorts but they aren't Tiger Woods.. so we never hear about them either! Maybe it's not fair, but that's how it works.
That said Mike is sort of a known jerk, bully, druggie, drunk, whose only "friends" seem to be his attorney and others who work for him ... so, I'm guessing he is a bit over due for a bit of karmic retribution
87
It's probably good a refused the breath test and will have his license revoked for a year, it will keep him off the road and Seattle pedestrians and drivers a little safer.
Personally, I think what says more about his character is what happened after he hit the other car. That's the point where he should have manned up and taken responsibility, drunk or not. Refusing to give his personal and insurance info after hitting someone?
Assaulting the other driver?
Trying to bribe the victim?
Fleeing the scene?
Refusing the official breath test?
Every move along the way was unethical, and really fucking lame if you were the person he hit then assaulted out of the blue. And how can someone be that drunk and out of control at 6pm? It wasn't 2am or anything.
Personally, I think what says more about his character is what happened after he hit the other car. That's the point where he should have manned up and taken responsibility, drunk or not. Refusing to give his personal and insurance info after hitting someone?
Assaulting the other driver?
Trying to bribe the victim?
Fleeing the scene?
Refusing the official breath test?
Every move along the way was unethical, and really fucking lame if you were the person he hit then assaulted out of the blue. And how can someone be that drunk and out of control at 6pm? It wasn't 2am or anything.
88
Yeah, I'm going your way on this one dan10things...
besides, my "dozens of DUI's each night" figure was complete BS, a dozen is a very busy night for SPD.
besides, my "dozens of DUI's each night" figure was complete BS, a dozen is a very busy night for SPD.
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