West Allis committee recommends shutting down The Drunk Uncle after witnesses testify owner harassed them

WEST ALLIS, Wis. (CBS 58) -- The Drunk Uncle bar in West Allis is one step closer to being shut down after a common council committee recommended revoking the bar's license.

The hearing held on Thursday, April 17, was the first time bar owner Neal Steffek directly addressed several allegations of harassment and inappropriate behavior.

Steffek represented himself in the court-like setting as the city called witnesses to testify against him. They spoke about times Steffek allegedly harassed them, threatened them, and made them feel uncomfortable.

That was enough for the council committee to unanimously recommend he lose his license.

Public Safety Committee Chair Ald. Suzzette Grisham told Steffek, "After 11, 12 years of getting away with this behavior, I think the jig is up."

In the end, it was an easy decision for the committee.

Grisham said, "You didn't pick up the cue that, not only is this inappropriate, it's sexual harassment."

Throughout the three-hour hearing, several witnesses testified.

One man who said he witnessed an incident with Steffek testified, "He ignored me and just kept sexually harassing her."

A woman said, "Neal would raise his shirt in my direction and be like, 'Ok, now it's your turn.'"

Another said he "pulled up his shirt, showed his chest to me, and told me it was my turn."

Most of the witnesses requested anonymity, saying the incidents were emotional to relive.

The attorney representing the city asked one witness, "How did this interaction with Mr. Steffek make you feel?" She replied, "Very uncomfortable. I felt very violated."

Steffek denied most of the allegations, saying, "They're pretty much all false except one. It's got a small, I'll give it 20% truth to it."

He did acknowledge not being in the building once as the sole license holder.

Steffek represented himself to make his case and question witnesses.

But in the end, it did not sway the committee.

Grisham told Steffek after the vote, "I don't find anything you said to be credible."

We spoke with Steffek after the vote. He did not want to go on camera, but insisted what he did was not sexual harassment.

The full West Allis Common Council will have the final say at the May 6 meeting.