ABOVE: Cocktail surveillance video. Screenshot courtesy Cocktail.
*UPDATED 3/14/22 4:56 p.m. The suspect has been apprehended. Read more here.
ST. PETERSBURG | Cocktail is seeking community assistance in identifying a man who vandalized the popular LGBTQ venue with a homophobic slur in the early hours of March 11.
In surveillance video found below, a man can be seen getting off his bicycle and approaching Cocktail’s entrance along Central Ave. just before 6:30 a.m. In graphic language and with multiple errors, he writes that “silly faggott’s dick’s are for chics.”
Cocktail first publicly addressed the matter March 14. Owner David Fischer confirms the police have been notified and are assisting.
“We need your help in identifying this person who wrote homophobic slurs on the front of our business and then was so proud of himself he took pictures of it,” Cocktail shared via social media late March 13. “Please share and help us identify him. Thank you! #lovewins”
View the post below:
Video and photo of the incident can also be seen below, courtesy of Cocktail.
“We take the security of our guests and employees very serious at COCKtail,” Fischer tells Watermark.
“Unfortunately, given the current political climate and proposed legislation people are feeling bolder than ever to voice their hate,” he continues. “We will not take lightly any threat or homophobia someone exhibits that makes our guests feel less than safe in our establishments and will press charges to the fullest extent of the law when they are caught.”
Anyone with information about the vandalism is asked to contact Cocktail via email at BottomsUp@CocktailStPete.com.
You must be logged in to post a comment.