He Messed With The Wrong Vendor

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by Melissa Bailey | Jun 21, 2010 7:57 am

(27) Comments | Commenting has been closed | E-mail the Author

Posted to: Business/Labor/ Economic Development, Legal Writes

Melissa Bailey Photo When he lost his cool and threatened to dump city official Andy Rizzo in New Haven Harbor, Carlos Espada-Maldonado didn’t know to whom he was talking. He ended up losing the license to his Puerto Rican food cart.

Espada-Maldonado, who owns La Pinchera, has sold Puerto Rican shish kebabs on Long Wharf since 2001.

His trouble began on April 18, when he and a rival food cart vendor were arrested in a dispute involving a knife and a gun. The city yanked both their licenses, then agreed to give them both a second chance.

Espada-Maldonado apparently blew that second chance this month. He lost his temper with a woman who was honking her horn outside his truck. Little did he know, the woman was the wife of Alderman Greg Morehead, who owns a nearby soul food cart.

Morehead (pictured above) called the cops right after the June 5 dispute. Two days later, the city again yanked Espada-Maldonado’s license, citing his criminal background and a second, unnamed incident. City officials declined to say what that second incident was, but police spokesman Officer Joe Avery said he believed it was the June 5 confrontation with the Moreheads.

The booted food cart owner blasted the city for revoking his license. He accused the city of “nitpicking” his behavior.

Melissa Bailey File Photo “I’m real mad about it,” said Espada-Maldonado (pictured with his girlfriend at a previous administrative hearing, in a phone interview. “We need to make money. How are we going to survive?”

Morehead described Espada-Maldonado as a “hotheaded” “troublemaker” who deserved to lose his license.

“He tries to intimidate everybody,” Morehead said, “but he doesn’t scare me.”

When Morehead called 911 on the “troublemaker,” five cops showed up. Here’s what happened, according to interviews with Alderman Morehead and Espada-Maldonado:

Around noon on Saturday, June 5, Shanah Morehead was driving her car into a parking area near Long Wharf Drive, where food carts are now corralled together because of highway construction.

Depending on whom you ask, she was either “speeding through the lot,” or was calmly trying to get around a customer who was parked in front of La Pinchera. She blew her horn and called out for the car to move out of the way, according to both parties. Espada-Maldonado objected to her request. He told her she had no right to be driving there.

“We’re trying to have no cars in the lot,” Espada-Maldonado later explained. “She’s just a troublemaker.”

After Espada-Maldonado refused to move his customer, Shanah Morehead told him she would take up the issue with Andy Rizzo, the city’s top building official, who handles vending permits. Espada-Maldonado replied that he didn’t care if Rizzo came to Long Wharf.

“I’ll Throw Him In The Water”

Espada-Maldonado admitted losing his temper at that point: “She was threatening me with Rizzo and the city. And that [made] me very mad.”

He admitted threatening to hurl the city official into the harbor.

“I told her—go bring Rizzo here and I’ll throw him in the water. I told her just like that,” Espada-Maldonado said.

Shanah Morehead drove away and told her husband what had happened. Alderman Morehead went over to La Pinchera to ask what happened. He called Rizzo to report the incident. During their conversation, Espada-Maldonado also allegedly made a threat to the other Puerto Rican vendor, with whom he’d fought in April. “It’s not over,” he allegedly said, according to Morehead.

After what he called two separate threats, Morehead called the cops. Five police cars rolled into Long Wharf. Officer Darryl Cargill took down statements from both sides, which reflect the above narratives.

According to Cargill, Espada-Maldonado’s license was valid at the time of the dispute.

The vendor’s license was revoked on June 7, “based on background and another incident,” according to a note scrawled on Cargill’s police report. It’s not clear whether the “incident” is the one described by Morehead or a separate one. Rizzo declined to specify which “incident” was the fatal blow to the vendor’s license.

Melissa Bailey File Photo Rizzo said the decision wasn’t his—he got orders from Assistant Chief Stephanie Redding, who had warned Espada-Maldonado in April that he only had one more chance before losing his license. He sent out a letter on June 8 advising Espada-Maldonado that he is now banned from selling food at Long Wharf.

All Quiet On The Waterfront

Espada-Maldonado appealed that decision in letters to Rizzo and to Redding, who is retiring effective July 2. Redding could not be reached for this story. Rizzo said an appeals hearing had not yet been scheduled.

Meanwhile, Espada-Maldonado said he’s left without a livelihood: “I can’t feed my family. I gotta pay my bills. It’s real hard. I don’t know what I need to do now.”

Morehead stood inside his truck, Mobile Soul Food, serving up fried chicken sandwiches to two post office workers Friday afternoon. He and his wife have run the cart there since October. They’re open for lunch seven days a week, longer on weekends. They sell southern food like yams, fish sandwiches and and collard greens. He said the food-selling lot has become much more peaceful since the “troublemaker” left.

“We’re all supposed to be like a family down here,” said Morehead of his fellow vendors. “We’re all down here trying to make money—some people don’t see it that way. They think it’s their territory.”

Since Espada-Maldonado left, the sense of family, and tranquility, has returned, Morehead said: “It’s been quiet down here.”

Comments

posted by: Doyens on June 21, 2010 8:42am

This little spat blew up to the point where the cops were called? Who threatens somebody with Andy Rizzo? Probably somebody who feels they have power and connections to hurt somebody who irratated them. As for Rizzo ... how about the time he told the BOA he could only find $10K in cuts to his bloated budget at LCI? Or the time nearly with tears in his eyes, he relates some sob story of how giving away a free smoke detector was what made the LCI budget of $1.3 million worth it to taxpayers? Or how about when he condems the buildings in the Chapel Street fire before the smoke clears, and then refuses to allow re-construction?

posted by: Threefifths on June 21, 2010 9:46am

This has shades of political patronage.If Mr.
Espada-Maldonado made a threat.They why was he not put under arrest? Both of them should have had there license revoke unill they is a full investigation on what happen.

posted by: will on June 21, 2010 9:58am

.... Explain the “rules of the road” to Espada-Maldonado with respect to playing nice in the sandbox ONE MORE TIME and give him back the license. ...

posted by: calabash on June 21, 2010 10:23am

Given the facts in this report, it seems like the decision to rescind the license was based on hearsay to the authorities. I’m not saying he doesn’t deserve to lose his license, but where’s the due process?

I’d hate to think I’d be disadvantaged by a decision because a complainant happened to be the spouse of an Alderman.

posted by: Morris Cove Mom on June 21, 2010 10:44am

Wow! I can’t say I’m shocked. Nepotism like this runs rampant throughout the New Haven city government. He should tread lightly if he wants his license back, or maybe see if he can work in West Haven. This city will never give him a fair shake, seeing as they’ve played into the hands of this he said-she said business.

posted by: sam on June 21, 2010 11:13am

morehead this is nothing to joke about trust me.

posted by: annoyed on June 21, 2010 11:42am

What will be a shame is if the city gets fed up with this and pulls all the vendors off Long Wharf…I can see it now.. [he] cant control himself and now everyone has to suffer…I didn’t know there was soul food….WOW !!

posted by: Steve on June 21, 2010 12:04pm

See what voting for the Mayor’s/Aldermen’s Budget will get you! 5 Squad Cars- and any department head you want to impose the Iron Hand of the City!

...

Morehead has pull!

posted by: streever on June 21, 2010 1:52pm

If the guy is so hot-headed that he feels the need to continue to make remarks about hurting the other guy after promising the police that he would keep his cool, I can’t say that I feel badly for him.

It is an allegation, but it sounds like he corroborated the story and confirmed that he started threatening people.

I’m sorry, but that has no place in our society or city. How many “try overs” do you all want him to get?

posted by: Moti Sandman on June 21, 2010 3:19pm

To all the people on the board saying and/or insinuating that Greg is getting special treatment due to his position are not giving this an accurate read. When Carlos Espada-Maldonado made his remarks he crossed the line. Espada-Maldonado knew he was on a short leash and admitting in a police report that he threatened to physically harm a city official is not the way to keep your license. Greg and his wife just like Carlos are trying to make an honest living in the bad economy and have a right to feel safe in their workplace.

posted by: Threefifths on June 21, 2010 3:44pm

: Moti Sandman

Are you going to run again?

posted by: ignoranceisbliss on June 21, 2010 5:33pm

Run! Moti Run!

posted by: Alderman Greg Morehead on June 21, 2010 5:54pm

First off.. This article has some inaccuracies that I wanted to clarify..
When this incident happened and I had to call the police, only 2 cop cars showed up, not five. When I spoke to the dispatcher, I never mentioned that I was an Alderman. The officer that came and took my report didn’t know that I was an Alderman either. When My wife came into the parking lot, she wasn’t speeding. If anyone has been down there where our trucks are located currently, they would see that La Pinchera was parked at the last spot next to the entrance to the parking lot around the curve. There is NO way for anyone to speed into that lot. La Pinchera was on the left, a car pulled up next to his truck pedestrians in the lot, and cars on the right side parked. This is a normal occurrence on Sat and Sundays due to the volume of people that come to buy from the trucks but not enough space. The State owns the lot where we are, and they will not close the lot so that no cars or trucks pass through.
This story fails to mention that these problems have been going on for sometime now and it hasn’t been one or two incidents. I will reply to everyones comment..
@ Doyens
It wasn’t a little spat. This has been going on for a while. You have someone that thinks down there (Longwharf) is his territory and goes off on people that confront him. The only reason my wife brough up contacting someone from City Hall was to say something needs to be done about the whole parking situation etc. All of the vendors have been complaining about cars and trucks coming through as a safety hazard.. No one knew that I was an Alderman until about a month ago when a City Hall worker came and patronized from a Mexican Truck and told them who I was. If I was on a power trip or wanted to use my power down there, don’t you think I would’ve told everyone down there when I started? My Alderman business is separate from my personal business with my Food truck and I don’t combine the two..

@ Threefifths
What political patronage. Follow the story back to when it was first put out with the two Puerto Rican trucks. They agreed to let La Pinchera come back down with the exception of no more incidents. This is not the first or second thing that happened. This is the second thing that you guys see because it was brought to light twice.

@ calabash
The due process was when La Pinchera sat before the Police Dept and was explained the rules moving forward. How many chances does a person get with the nature of everything that has happened?

@sam
I am not joking or laughing about this whole incident. Where in the article did I say that this was a joke?

@steve
Please check your facts before you post. I wasn’t in favor of the Mayors budget and didn’t vote for it. My constituents asked me not to vote in favor of it, and thats what I did. It was only two squad cars, not five.

@Moti Sandman
Thank You for your comments. We are down there trying to make a decent living and don’t need any of the added pressure. Anyone that knows me knows that I’m not the type to push my title around. I have never done that..

posted by: Alderman Greg Morehead on June 21, 2010 7:37pm

I posted a number of comments but they weren’t posted. I wonder why?

posted by: Anon on June 21, 2010 8:36pm

I think it’s nuts to call police because a cart customer didn’t move when you beeped.

I think this is all too much. I can’t stand it. I just want to leave this place

posted by: MM on June 21, 2010 9:33pm

I would suggest that fellow citizens boycott all the food trucks on Long Wharf. They probably do more harm to the city’s reputation and its other businesses than they’re worth.

posted by: Threefifths on June 21, 2010 10:04pm

Alderman Greg Morehead on June 21, 2010 5:54pm

Alderman Morehead went over to La Pinchera to ask what happened. He called Rizzo to report the incident.

Give me a break.Are telling me that Rizzo didn’t know you as Alderman Morehead? How many people have call Rizzo and have been give the run around.You going to tell me that Rizzo didn’t look at for you.As I said This has shades of political patronage.last you may not have vote for the Mayors budget,But your record show that you support King John the major of the times.

posted by: NewHavenerToo on June 21, 2010 10:28pm

Alderman Morehead….

This is not the place for you to make your case. That’s what court is for. People here have RIGHT to voice their opinion regardless of whether you agree with it or not. The truth is the truth is the truth and it ALWAYS comes out no matter what it is.

I have no opinion as to who was right or wrong in this situation, but to start to have to explain things to each and every person who makes a comment is just ridiculous.

I wish ALL alderman had this kind of time on their hands.

posted by: sam on June 22, 2010 1:16am

I’M LAUGHING

posted by: The Professor on June 23, 2010 3:47am

This may be my favorite line in the whole story:

“We’re trying to have no cars in the lot,” Espada-Maldonado later explained. “She’s just a troublemaker.”

Uh, last time I checked, Espada-Maldonado held a clear lead in the all-important “armed confrontations surrounding food carts” category.

Doyens, if a guy who was last seen pulling a knife on another vendor started screaming at you and threatening to throw city officials into New Haven Harbor, you wouldn’t call the police? I’m pretty sure this is exactly what the police are there for—to protect New Haveners from those who would do harm without provocation. A guy with a history of aggression involving deadly weapons threatening to kill local officials is more than “a little spat.”

I get that you don’t think highly of Andy Rizzo, but I’m not sure what point of the final 85% of your comment is. It sounds like you’re insinuating that it’s okay to make death threats against public officials if you don’t like the way they do their jobs. If that is where your were going with your comments, that is despicable. The level of political discourse in this city is already embarrassing, and you may have just managed to drag it even further down.

Threefifths, let me get this straight. If Dick Blumenthal’s house gets robbed and the robbers are apprehended and punished, would that be political patronage under your definition? Why in the good lord’s name should Morehead’s license be revoked? They didn’t do anything wrong! At the absolute worst, Shaunah Morehead may have been a bit inconsiderate to a customer. If being rude and inconsiderate is grounds for official sanctions, half of the people who comment here should be on death row.

But even that account seems far-fetched. Espada-Maldonado’s explanation for his fury was that he wanted to “keep cars out of the area,” except that his customer’s car WAS in the area! Knowing what I know about Espada’s violent history, I think it’s much more likely that he just flew off the handle.

Calabash,
You should probably stick to coming up with clever shrimp-related nicknames for yourself, as the law clearly isn’t your field. Under your theory of “hearsay,” no statement given to the police would ever be admissible. And even if that theory were correct, it wouldn’t matter here—in case you didn’t realize, this matter isn’t being dealt with by a court. This is a municipal administrative matter. As far as due process goes, I think that ship sailed last time around, when Espada-Maldonado was just barely given back his operating license after PULLING A KNIFE on a fellow vendor. He had his due process, and that’s what resulted in him being given one more chance, which he blew when he threatened to throw a city official into New Haven harbor. And that’s not hearsay, he ADMITTED to doing so.

Morris Cove Mom,

How in god’s name is this nepotism? How is favoritism being shown to anybody here? Somebody with a history of provoking armed confrontations started screaming at another vendor and threatening to throw a city official into New Haven harbor. Pulling that person’s permit doesn’t sound like showing favoritism to somebody who doesn’t merit it, it sounds like a common sense measure that will help preserve order in the community.

The city gave Espada-Maldonado a fair shake. He pulled a knife on another vendor, was given a second chance, then threatened to throw a city official into the harbor and, for good measure, tossed in another threat to the vendor involved in the first confrontation. If that’s how the guy operates his business, I think it’s great that the city told him to pack it up.

Anon,

For the fourteenth time, the police weren’t called because a car didn’t move. They were called because a man with a history of provoking armed confrontations started screaming at a vendor and threatening to throw a city official into New Haven harbor. That’s precisely the kind of thing that the police SHOULD show up to.

NewHavenerToo,

Morehead never told people that they didn’t have the right to voice their opinions here. All that he did was respond to allegations and implications. Just as others have the right to make snide, baseless comments about Morehead, Morehead has the right to respond to them.

Furthermore, it’s not clear that this will ever even end up in court. I don’t think that Morehead or the city will be pursuing charges against Espada-Maldonado, so unless Espada-Maldonado wants to flush some money down the toilet and sue the city for doing its job and revoking his license, this won’t see the inside of a courtroom.

You claim neutrality, yet you put ill-informed and in Doyens’ case, poorly-conceived and possibly ethically questionable comments on a pedestal while criticizing Morehad for sticking up for himself, his wife, and their business. Doesn’t sound neutral to me.

posted by: Threefifths on June 23, 2010 10:28am

The Professor on June 23, 2010 3:47am

The arrest of the robbers are not political patronage,But Being it is Dick Blumenthal I will bet you that more resource is put into find the robbers due to who he is,Then if it was you or I.Peoples titles have a lot to do with how they can get things in there favor that you or I can not get. Case and point I have Family and friends who are police officer’s.One time I was in there car and he run a red light.The police pulled him over.He flash his badge and told them that he was on the job.So they told him no problem and let him go.He told me across this country police officer’s most of the time will not get a ticket.Let that what have been me or you.We would have been in court!!! So yes because of one’s title they can get patronage.

posted by: Ed on June 23, 2010 2:43pm

The guy was given a second chance and I remember when we all though that was a good idea, which it was. However, this man cannot control himself and he deserves to lose his license and be arrested for threatening a city employee.

posted by: NH Resident on June 23, 2010 4:33pm

Let’s all face it - Carlos apparently have a bad temper that he cannot control. The City of NH gave him and the other vendor(s) a second chance. As I read early, he (Carlos) blew it. ...

posted by: Kenya on June 23, 2010 4:44pm

I agree that Maldanodo sounded like a trouble maker. He got his second chance and managed to blow that as well. I just have one question for the Alderman. If there is such a problem with the mixture of motor vehicle traffic mixing with foot traffic in the lot and if the vendors would prefer to stop cars from driving through the lot altogether then why was your wife driving in the lot adding to the problem?

posted by: Threefifths on June 23, 2010 6:29pm

The Professor on June 23, 2010 3:47am

Check out this politcal patronage.

http://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/blumenthal_calls_marshals_alleged_shakedowns_deeply_disturbing/

posted by: Alderman Greg Morehead on June 23, 2010 6:40pm

Kenya -

This is how the lot is setup now for pedestrians and cars.. We(The Vendors) are parked in assigned spots on the left side of the lot. Cars are supposed to be parked on the far right of the lot so that there is enough room for cars to pass in the middle. The state is the only one that can close the lot from cars coming through. The way it is now, cars and trucks come through the lot while pedestrians are standing at each vendor truck. It is a real safety hazard. On that day, La Pinchera was in his spot, a car was close to his truck like it was a drive through and there was a car parked on the other side of that tight parking lot. Mr. Espada-Maldonado knew that cars wouldn’t be able to pass, but still allowed this customer to remain parked next to his truck without saying anything to them.
My wife was in the “right” to blow her horn at the parked vehicle… And there were cars behind her waiting to get in also.

posted by: Anon on June 24, 2010 10:49am

If I thought a guy was that dangerous, I sure wouldn’t pull up behind his customer’s car and start beeping.

I don’t find any of the people involved in this thing credible, at least not based on the representations in the stories about it.

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