Man to 911: bar won't serve me

Rita Farlow

St Petesburg Staff Writer
In Print: Thursday, September 17, 2009

CLEARWATER — If the bartender won't serve you anymore, it may be time to call a friend for a ride, or maybe a taxi.

Calling 911 is probably not the best idea.

But that's what a Clearwater man did Tuesday night, police said.

Vincent Smith, 54, who is homeless, was arrested by Clearwater police on a misdemeanor charge of misusing the 911 system around 9 p.m. in the 1300 block of Cleveland Street.

Smith called "numerous times" and was still on the phone with 911 when police arrived, an arrest report said. He also complained that a local soup kitchen wouldn't feed him, the report said.

Clark Hubbard, who owns the Idle Spur Saloon, said his bartender cut Smith off because he was intoxicated.

"We called him a cab," said Hubbard. "Then he got out front and got in an argument with the cab driver and it kind of escalated from there."

Smith had two "Jack (Daniels) and Cokes," at the bar, said Hubbard, "But you don't know what they've been drinking before they get here."

Hubbard said his bartender asked police to issue a trespass warning to Smith, who on Wednesday afternoon remained in the Pinellas County Jail in lieu of $150 bail.