Plano Police Department/FacebookA bartender in Texas has been charged with a misdemeanor after serving alcohol to an intoxicated man who would go on to commit a mass shooting.
27-year-old Lindsey Glass was arrested on April 30 in Plano, Texas, after allegedly being in violation of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code, ‘Sale to Certain Persons’.
This code states that the ‘person commits an offense if the person with criminal negligence sells an alcoholic beverage to an habitual drunkard or an intoxicated or insane person’. Violation of this code carries fines of up to $500, a year long prison sentence, or both.
Plano Police Department On September 10, 2017, Glass allegedly sold alcoholic beverages to 32-year-old Stephen Hight at the Local Public House, as reported by NBCDFW.
Glass allegedly served Hight two gin and tonics, two beers and a vodka shot. As Hight sat at the bar, he reportedly took out a large knife and spoke of ‘putting someone in their place’ and ‘taking care of some dirty work’. Despite this, Glass continued to serve him drinks.
Glass reportedly sent the following text message to another bartender, detailing Hight’s behaviour:
Spencer has a big knife on the bar and is spinning it and just asked for his tab and said I have to go do some dirty work… Psychoooooooo.
According to a Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) report obtained by NBCDFW, investigators have said Glass should not have served Hight after he ‘was unsteady on his feet and staggered around the bar, running into tables and walking sideways’.
After leaving the bar, Hight drove to the home of his estranged wife, Meredith Hight, who had been hosting a Dallas Cowboys-watching party.
It was here that Hight fatally shot Meredith, along with seven other people. The other victims have been named as Anthony ‘Tony’ Michael Cross (33), Olivia Nicole Deffner (24), James Richard Dunlop (29), Darryl William Hawkins (22), Rion Christopher Morgan (31), Myah Sade Bass (28) and Caleb Seth Edwards (25).
Hight was killed by police officers who had been responding to the shooting call. His blood alcohol level was found to be four times the state’s legal limit.
Glass had reportedly known Hight, and was reportedly supposed to have attended the watching party at Meredith’s house.
Spencer Hight/FacebookGlass’ attorney, Scott Palmer, has criticised the charge, giving the following statement:
It is shameful of the Plano Police department to go after the person who was vital in trying to stop the horrific events of that evening.
This arrest is not in the interest of justice and appears to be a last-ditch effort by the Plano PD to make someone pay.
According to Palmer, officers had initially commended Glass and told her how her actions had saved lives:
Lindsey Glass is the person who called 911.
Not only did she know Spencer but she was friends with Meredith and was supposed to be at the party that evening.
Now available court docs show how many drinks Spencer Hight may have been served before a shooting rampage in Plano nearly 2 years ago. Bartender was just arrested for TABC violation. Docs show Hight had 2 gins, 2 beers, and 1 shot. His BAC was .33. Four times limit. @wfaa pic.twitter.com/FlRzCdWQsl
— Jobin Panicker (@jobinpnews) May 6, 2019
As reported by Dallas News, the Local Public House gave up its liquor license during a settlement with the TABC in July 2018. It is reportedly now closed.
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Jules studied English Literature with Creative Writing at Lancaster University before earning her masters in International Relations at Leiden University in The Netherlands (Hoi!). She then trained as a journalist through News Associates in Manchester. Jules has previously worked as a mental health blogger, copywriter and freelancer for various publications.