Oscar's liquor license in danger after owner clashes with woman
Man faces charges after actress suffered broken bones; tavern may lose its liquor license
A clash with an unruly bar patron at closing time has a downtown tavern owner facing criminal charges and could spell the end of his liquor license.
Phil Duhon, 38, is accused of attacking a 36-yearold woman who refused to leave after a night of drinking at Oscar's Tejon Street on Jan. 28.
The victim was Beth Ann Ulrich, a little-known film actress now living in Colorado Springs.
She suffered broken bones in her face from being repeatedly kicked and thrown several times inside and outside the bar at 333 S. Tejon St., authorities said.
An employee who saw the confrontation told police he first withheld details to protect his boss, believing he would lose his job if he told the truth.
Duhon was charged Feb. 8 with second-degree assault, a felony, and misdemeanor harassment. He posted a $10,000 bond and is due in court for arraignment March 31.
Last week, the city moved to revoke or suspend the liquor license Duhon obtained in March of 2003, arguing the encounter ran afoul of "conduct of establishment" laws for liquor licensees and that Duhon is "not of satisfactory character record and reputation" to hold a license.
The business is also accused of serving alcoholic beverages to a "visibly intoxicated" patron twice on the night of the fight with Ulrich, also a violation.
The city liquor board could take action at a hearing Friday at 9 a.m. at City Hall.
"It's a very unfortunate incident, and we are looking to resolve this as soon as possible," Duhon said Tuesday. He declined to address the allegations further.
Ulrich, who had a supporting role in "Apartment 12," a 2001 film starring Mark Ruffalo, could not be reached for comment. She recently moved to Colorado Springs to take care of her mother, according to Ulrich's manager, Eileen O'Farrell of Studio City, Calif.
"She was pretty beat up," O'Farrell said. "She called me and she was just hysterical."
Police say Ulrich and Duhon had been drinking heavily in the hours leading up to the dispute, which occurred just before 2 a.m. when Ulrich refused to relinquish her beer and began to act belligerently.
According to the police arrest affidavit, two employees told police that Ulrich had been "out of control" that night and was injured when Duhon threw her outside, apparently because she bit him during the struggle.
Ulrich admitted to police that she was drunk and belligerent but said she did nothing to merit being beaten up.
Her earlier film credits include small-budget films such as "Fugitive Rage," "Invisible Mom," "Dreamlover Cafe" and "Naked Women in a Haunted House."
A biography on her Web site describes her as 5 feet, 4 inches tall and 110 pounds. Duhon is 5 feet, 11 inches tall and about 200 pounds, court documents said.
