Police arrest businessman, fraternity president

[Kevin]

Police arrest businessman, fraternity president

John A, Williams
The Edmond Sun

EDMOND — The co-owner of Sumo Japanese Steak House and the president
of the Acacia Fraternity at the University of Central Oklahoma were
arrested Saturday after allegedly violating Edmond's Social Host
Ordinance.

Police arrested the co-owner, Leon Xiao He, 25, and the fraternity's
president, Nathan Woolard, 22, around 1:45 a.m. The arrest stemmed
from an earlier traffic stop in the 1800 block of South Broadway,
which is near the restaurant at 1801 S. Broadway.

Two passengers in the stopped car, 20-year-old Kyle Swabb and
19-year-old Zachary Blake Rockel, were arrested on complaints of
public intoxication. Both were wearing green wristbands that they told
officers were received from a security officer at the restaurant,
allegedly allowing them to drink alcohol during a private party there.

At the restaurant, police interviewed He and Woolard. Both confirmed
the security guard was checking identifications and placing green
bands on those 21 or older.

Woolard told police the restaurant bar staff was supposed to be
checking IDs before selling alcohol.

Swabb and Rockel were brought back to the restaurant, but according to
police reports, changed their story by saying an Acacia fraternity
member was the one who gave them the green wristbands.

Woolard and He were arrested on complaints of permitting gatherings
where minors are consuming alcoholic beverages.

This is the fourth incident where Edmond Police have made arrests
under the city's Social Host Ordinance, which was enacted in January.
However, this is the first case to include the arrest of a businessman
for allegedly violating the ordinance.

UCO spokesman Charlie Johnson said any time there may be a violation
of the student conduct code, the university will investigate.

"That doesn't mean we are making judgment in any manner at this point.
We don't know what will occur. We will be investigating in this case,
just like we would in any other where there may be a violation of the
student conduct code," Johnson said.
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A lot of cities are setting up these sorts of "social host" ordinances which state that any adult allowing alcohol to be consumed on their premises faces criminal liability. I'm not sure what penalties attach to this.