An owner of several well-known pubs in San Francisco has found himself in hot water after an incident involving a baseball bat and a dispute over parking.
Cyril Hackett, 63, who runs Mad Dog in the Fog, Kezar Pub, and Murio’s Trophy Room in the Haight-Ashbury area, was arrested early Saturday morning. He faces charges of assault with a deadly weapon and second-degree robbery, according to jail records.
The trouble began outside a Grateful Dead-themed clothing shop called Further, located near Mad Dog in the Fog. Hackett reportedly had a heated argument with an employee regarding a parking space in front of the store.
A few hours later, it seems Hackett returned to Further after hours, wielding a baseball bat. Security footage allegedly shows a man resembling Hackett entering the store, swinging the bat at an unseen target, and grabbing a clothing item from a rack before an employee chased him out.
He was taken into custody around 1:17 a.m. Saturday, after police were called to the scene following reports of a suspect with a baseball bat.
According to the San Francisco Police Department, they responded to a call about the altercation and discovered that the suspect had assaulted someone. They eventually found Hackett at a nearby business, and, after investigation, arrested him for robbery and assault, indicating it is still under active investigation.
Hackett is a notable figure in San Francisco’s bar scene, having immigrated from Ireland over 40 years ago. He has been at the helm of Kezar Pub for more than three decades and has recently taken control of Murio’s Trophy Room.
Interestingly, Mad Dog in the Fog is not just famous for its drinks—it’s also been part of local music history. The popular band Train performed there early in their career and even named an album after the pub. They recently held a show outside Mad Dog in August, which the mayor attended.
Anyone with further information about the incident is encouraged to reach out to the San Francisco Police Department.
