PARKSVILLE, NY — On July 15, Joe Peters Sr. was sitting in a chair across from the eatery, bar and music venue Cabernet Frank’s. Peters Sr. was holding a sign that read, “Cabernet Frank kill stray cat their food suck do not eat there.”

Wade St. Germain, the owner of Cabernet Frank’s, approached Peter’s Sr., and an altercation ensued. Here is an account of the incident from Joe Peters Jr.: “wade went out of his away [sic] across the street 2 my dad that was sitting on a chair not saying anything and wade got in his face n my dad warned him 2 get away n wen he said that wade slapped my dad so my dad got up n defended him self.”

Except that’s not what the video of the incident shows. The video, which can be seen on St. Germain’s Facebook page, shows that Peters Sr. said, “You get too close to me you may get hit.” The video appears to show that Peters Sr. flipped the sign up toward St. Germain’s face, then swore, shouted and swung his fists in the direction of St. Germain’s face. It does not show the punches landing because St. Germain is holding the camera, but it resulted in St. Germain receiving a black eye. To this reporter, the video does not show that St. Germain slapped Peters Sr. or touched him in any way.

After the initial account of this account was posted online, Peters Jr. called The River Reporter and insisted that his version of events was correct; that St. Germain smacked Peters Sr. in the face.  Peters Jr. also said that he had been recording the incident on his phone, but he can’t produce the video because St. Germain grabbed his phone and smashed it on the ground.  He further said that after this initial encounter he and Peters Sr. were jumped by seven of St. Germain’s supporters. He said St. Germain had no right to walk up to Peters Sr. and “get in his personal space.” He said police who responded said, “if anyone was arrested everyone would be arrested,” because there was wrongdoing on both sides."

Police are investigating and have taken a deposition from the waitress at the restaurant who also became involved.

These events occurred a day after supporters gathered at Cabernet Frank's, and about 20 of them marched the short distance to the property line of the glass shop and house owned by Peter Sr. They held signs that targeted Peters Sr.’s behavior toward the two business owners, whom supporters feel have brought some prosperity and life to the otherwise struggling hamlet. Peters Jr. noted that during the protest, he and his father did not harass them.

According to St. Germain’s attorney, Jerry Dorfman, there have been at least four previous charges filed against Peters Sr. There is a harassment charge related to Peters Sr. head-butting R.J. Baker, who owns Beaverkill Studio, which is next door to Cabernet Frank’s; that also was caught on video. There is the violation of an order of protection, which is a contempt of court charge. There is also a violation of a noise ordinance, relating to Peters Sr. playing loud music in front of the studio. And there is a disorderly conduct charge against Peters Sr. related to an incident with a Sullivan County sheriff’s deputy.

Civil suits have also been filed, with the plaintiffs seeking $1 million from Peters Sr. One of the suits involves a strip of land that runs between Beaverkill Studio and Peter Sr.’s building. The land belongs to the studio property, but Peter Sr. has a right to access it to maintain drainage pipes under the land. However, he has placed a chain-link fence and part of a dog kennel on the property, which, according to Dorfman’s reading of the deed, he does not have the right to do.

There is a restraining order against Peters Sr. running until February 2019, and he may not approach St. Germain or Baker or contact them on social media.

Here is how St. Germain sums up the dispute. “The problems started when his [Baker’s] neighbor, Joe Peters, who runs a business out of his own home, built a dog kennel 3 years ago in his front and back yards, partially on BKS property. In doing so, he eliminated his own yard and parking spaces and began to use Beaverkill Studio property to conduct his professional and personal business. Peters also began feeding a colony of feral cats under the foundation of the BKS building. Peters claimed the cats were stray and he did not own them. The feeding and hurling of cat litter and waste under BKS resulted in a rapid increase of the cat population. When asked to stop his practices, Peters refused, using physical and verbal violence. His aggressive behavior, including head butting Mr. Baker on Beaverrkill Studios property, is recorded on security camera.”

St. Germain and Baker trapped and removed some of the cats with the help of an animal-control officer, and also had a car with no plates towed away from in front of the studio.

St. Germain believes that the actions of Peter Sr. constitute a hate crime. He said that before the protest, when Baker gave his deposition relating to the head-butting incident,  that Peters Sr. had called him a “faggot,” and used other language indicating Peters Sr. was targeting the two men because of their sexual preference. He said in New York City that would have triggered the prosecution of a hate crime.

Peters Sr. did not respond to a request for an interview. According to a source familiar with the case, Liberty Town Judge Kirk Orseck found Peters Sr. in contempt of court related to the incident, and on July 16 ordered him held on $10,000 bail. However, he was released the next day.