Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission administrator Alan Steen apologized for the raid on the Rainbow Lounge in Fort Worth, Texas, (which fell, coincidentally, on the 40th anniversary of the NYC Stonewall riots), saying that the agency clearly committed "multiple violations" and that an "excessive show of force" was used during the incident:
"Steen also said the supervisor directly
responsible for the two agents — a sergeant in TABC's Fort Worth
district office — announced his retirement last week in the wake of the
raid and amid an ongoing internal investigation. Steen didn't identify
the sergeant or the agents by name…Steen said if the two agents, who are on desk duty pending the outcome
of the investigation, sought approval from the supervisor before the
Rainbow Lounge inspection, it shouldn't have been granted. The agents
were accompanied by six Fort Worth police officers. Steen said he doesn't think there was sufficient cause for the
inspection, which apparently was based on the fact that one person had
been arrested for public intoxication at the Rainbow Lounge on
Thursday, June 25. Steen also indicated that the eight law enforcement
officers and the paddy wagon that were present likely constituted an
excessive show of force…Steen added that the agents also shouldn't have been wearing “special
events uniforms,” which are prohibited during bar inspections. TABC
agents typically conduct bar inspections in plain clothes."
