Moretti's: Problem Bar or Business As Usual?

Week in and week out, Lake in the Hills Patch reports on local accidents, complaints, warrants and arrests in its

The blotter is based on information received from the 's daily bulletin.

As some readers have noticed, Lake in the Hills Patch frequently details arrests — often drunken driving or battery complaints — occurring at , 220 N. Randall Road.

Some might wonder if there is a clientele problem at Moretti’s or is the number of arrests normal for the bar business.

Jim Wales, the director of police and public safety at the , said the frequency of calls from Moretti's to his department is typical of businesses selling liquor.

“They keep us busy, although, the establishment itself has taken a very proactive stance in working with us,” Wales said. “ has been nothing but cooperative.”

Moretti's came to Lake in the Hills two years ago, filling the building formerly occupied by Govnor’s Public House. Moretti’s was well-received by Lake in the Hills leaders, residents and surrounding communities.

Moretti's corporate company, Ala Carte Entertainment, manages several restaurants in the Chicago area. Moretti's is renowned for its assortment of Italian-American food, particularly its Chicago-style pizza.

Moretti's also provides an upbeat bar atmosphere with several plasma televisions hung throughout the restaurant for sports fans. The bar remains open until 4 a.m. Wednesday through Sunday every week, according to Moretti's website.

Many bars and nightclubs in surrounding communities close at midnight or 2 a.m. One popular night spot, is also managed by Ala Carte and closes at 2 a.m. Saturday and Sunday weekly.

Many Arrests Occur After 2 a.m.

Lake in the Hills police reports show that many of the Moretti's arrests occur after 2 a.m.

Just this past weekend, Lake in the Hills police reported two arrests early Saturday morning, Sept. 17, at Moretti's, the first at 2:30 a.m. and the second at 4:06 a.m.

In the first incident,  and fled the scene.

Lake in the Hills charged that man with driving under the influence of alcohol, leaving a property damage accident, having a blood-alcohol content over .08, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, three counts of disobeying a traffic control device and failure to give information.

Hours later, police arrested .

The man initially fled on foot from the scene, but was apprehended and arrested at 4:06 a.m. on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol and resisting a peace officer.

Police reports from the past year reveal arrests at Moretti’s involve everything from drunken driving, theft from purses, passengers damaging the interior of a Hummer limousine to domestic and battery complaints.

Battery complaints included men fighting men and women fighting women.

On Nov. 7, 2010, Lake in the Hills police arrived at Moretti’s for a complaint of two women fighting at 2:37 a.m. Police returned 28 minutes later to reports of several women fighting.

Police Meet With Moretti's Managers

Lake in the Hills police have seen a decline in battery reports from Moretti’s and an increase in calls from restaurant management requesting unwanted patrons to leave, Wales said.

Wales believes a meeting between police and Moretti’s general managers one year ago has helped decrease the number of battery complaint calls from the restaurant over the past year.

“The first year Moretti’s was open, there were a sizable amount of bar fights,” Wales said.

“We met with the management and worked with the staff to help them identify potential (patron) problems. We wanted to get them to call us before a fight happened," Wales said. "Since then, we’ve seen a decrease in the amount of batteries, and an increase in ‘unwanted subject’ calls. The key for Moretti’s was setting the tone as to what is acceptable, and what is not."

Wales said he did not believe the arrests at Moretti’s are unique to the Lake in the Hills business. Rather, the various types of arrests are typical for any establishment that sells liquor, he said.

Do Moretti's Late-Night Hours of Operation Bring More Trouble?

When asked if Moretti’s incurs more problems because of its late hours of operation on the weekends, Wales speculated there might be a spillover effect when customers arrive from other destinations.

“There could be a bleed-over from customers who’ve been drinking elsewhere earlier in the night and then come to the Moretti’s,” Wales said. “But we get calls from other establishments (selling alcohol) in the village, too.”

Wales said that one of his chief of police officers has open communication with the general managers at Moretti’s to keep abreast of any complaints or charges.

In March, Lake in the Hills police issued a ticket to Moretti’s for violation of operating hours when the business was found to be open at 5:08 a.m. on a Sunday.

Managers at the Lake in the Hills restaurant declined to comment on the arrest activity. A call by Lake in the Hills Patch to Moretti's corporate office, A La Carte Entertainment in Schaumburg, was not returned.

Take the Lake in the Hills Patch poll and tell us what you think about Moretti's and some of the complaints and arrests made regarding the bar over the past two years. LITH Patch also has a list of police calls to Moretti's over the past 11 months.