KDPS says no evidence of drink tampering found in Y Bar investigation
KALAMAZOO, Mich. — The Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety confirmed Wednesday, June 9, 2021, its investigation into allegations of drink tampering at the Y Bar in Kalamazoo is closed and no charges of drink tampering will be filed.
This comes almost two months after the department announced its investigation following social media posts by a woman who said she and her friends were drugged at the bar.
According to a police report obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, some of the women said they suspected Y Bar co-owner Jon Rockwood of tampering with their drinks.
Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety Assistant Chief David Boysen said investigators scoured hours of surveillance footage and conducted interviews with involved parties and weren’t able to find evidence to support the allegations.
In his first interview since the accusations were made public, Rockwood called the allegations that he or anyone else at the bar tampered with drinks “false” and “lies.”
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“No.” Rockwood said when asked if he tampered with any drinks that night. “I would never and I have never thought about tampering with someone’s drink.”
Rockwood also said he didn’t believe the women were drugged at his bar, by him, his staff, nor anyone else.
“Absolutely I do not believe them, 100% it is not accurate,” Rockwood said about the allegations. “It didn’t happen.”
In surveillance video received by the News Channel 3 I-Team, a group of women is seen walking into the bar and sitting at a table. One of the women who said she and her friends were drugged confirmed it was their group sitting at the table, including women under 21 years old.
Police reports say after the group of women walked in they were approached by Rockwood about ordering drinks. Surveillance video from the bar shows the first round of drinks the women received were made and served by a female bartender.
Later in the night the video shows the women approach the bar where a man, Rockwood identified as himself, makes and pours another round of drinks.
According to police reports, after those drinks, the women say they can’t remember anything.
- Watch the interview: Three WMU students recount their experience after they say their drinks were drugged
Rockwood repeatedly said he never tampered with those or other drinks, saying it was wrong and also bad for businesses.
Court records show Rockwood is charged with four counts of furnishing alcohol to a minor, a misdemeanor that is typically punished with a fine.
When asked about those charges, Rockwood said he hadn’t been made aware of them.
“That’s normally not our practice to do that so if that is an occurrence that has been filed we will deal with that accordingly,” he said, adding the bar has someone that checks IDs.
