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Brighton Bar Owner Allegedly Had Injured Underage Patron Dumped Outside

BOSTON (CBS) – The owner of a Cleveland Circle bar was arraigned on multiple charges Wednesday for allegedly instructing employees to carry an unconscious man outside after the underage patron was found at the bottom of a staircase in the bar.

John Rogaris, 44, of New York, owner of Roggie's on Chestnut Hill Avenue, faces charges of witness intimidation, misleading police and destruction of evidence.

The bar and restaurant is a popular spot with Boston College students.

At the arraignment in Suffolk Superior Court, Assistant District Attorney David Bradley said surveillance video shows two people carrying someone out of the back door of Roggie's about 2:30 a.m. on May 23.

Roggies-Restaurant--assalt-victim-was-found-behind
A man was found unconscious behind this Chestnut Hill Avenue bar in Brighton. The bar's owner now faces charges. (WBZ-TV)

According to court documents, Rogaris allegedly told the employees to take the victim to the back parking lot and call 911 but they did not call 911.

The prosecutor said the victim remained outside Roggie's until a passer-by called 911. He was taken to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center with life-threatening head injuries.

Police initially thought the man had been beaten.

The victim, Dylan Fitzgibbon, appeared in court Wednesday wearing a helmet as a result of his injuries.

Bill Dailey, an attorney for Fitzgibbon, said the 20-year-old remembers gathering with friends and going out but the next thing he remembers is being in the hospital. He said Fitzgibbon has serious head and neck injuries.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Carl Stevens reports

Bar Owner Allegedly Had Injured Patron Dumped In Parking Lot

At the time of the incident, Fitzgibbon was visiting Boston for a work program as part of his studies at University College Cork in Ireland.

Court documents state that the video obtained from the bar with a search warrant also shows Rogaris manipulating wires at the back of the video recording machine.

Rogaris allegedly had told police the video system shorted out and there was no video of the incident, according to the court documents.

Bradley said Rogaris told a witness that he would take care of him financially if "he took the fall for him."

After the arraignment, a lawyer for Rogaris said, "John Rogaris has a spotless record. He's worked hard to run a successful business.

Rogaris was released on personal recognizance.

He is due back in court August 14.

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