6th Street Liquor’s license was suspended Tuesday pending sale after police found a co-owner and employee unconscious on the floor.
The business was previously cited after the owner sold alcohol while intoxicated and left the store unattended for at least 15 minutes.
Durango City Council, acting as the local liquor licensing authority, voted to suspend the license for six months pending sale. If a sale does not occur, the license will be revoked.
Durango police Officer Nathan Scott testified Tuesday that he responded to a medical emergency around 10:15 p.m. Oct. 9 at 6th Street Liquor involving an unconscious employee.
“A customer who had gone in to purchase alcohol had seen the employee fall over in the business and was unresponsive,” he said, relaying what another officer had told him.
The customer called 911, and the employee later locked the door, Scott said.
Jared Thomson said he is embarrassed by the incident, has been sober, is attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and seeing a substance abuse counselor.
“Our life is riding on this,” he said.
He added later that he and his wife attended the hearing to “beg for mercy.”
Amy Thomson said she is humiliated and never wanted to appear before City Council again, and took responsibility for the Oct. 9 incident.
Jared asked for mercy: community service, fines, license suspension, drug tests ‒ anything that would allow them to keep their business.
City Council voted 5-0 to suspend the license pending sale. City Attorney Mark Morgan said the couple has six months to complete the sale before the license is revoked.
The couple said during the hearing they’ve owned the store for less than a year and made “significant investments,” including from a family member.
Rocky said the couple hit “rock bottom” with alcohol addiction, something he said is common among alcohol retailers.
Amy told The Durango Herald after the hearing she had a bad night and messed up, but said she is not an addict.
Rockey said the couple deserves punishment but also a chance to learn from their mistakes.
Councilor Jessika Buell said she hoped to never see the Thomsons before council ‒ acting as the liquor licensing authority ‒ again.
6th Street Liquor’s license was previously suspended for 15 days after Jared sold alcohol while intoxicated and left the store unattended. He was banned from the business.
cburney@durangoherald.com
An earlier version of this story gave an incorrect first name for 6th Street Liquor co-owner Jared Thomson.
