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Cleveland Circle bar owner charged with trying to keep police from learning how a man was knocked unconscious in his bar, then dragged outside

A Suffolk County grand jury today indicted John Rogaris, 44, owner of Roggie's on Chestnut Hill Avenue, on charges he interfered with an investigation into the discovery of an unconscious man with a life-threatening head injury found behind Roggie's in May, the Suffolk County District Attorney's office and Boston Police report.

Rogaris is scheduled to be arraigned in Suffolk Superior Court on Wednesday on charges of destruction of evidence, witness intimidation and misleading police, who say he failed to help them figure out the appearance of an unconscious man around 2:40 a.m. on May 23, the DA's office says.

Boston Police report:

The facts emerging from the investigation indicate that the victim suffered a life threatening injury while inside the establishment and was subsequently carried outside. During the investigation, Rogaris destroyed potential evidence, instructed employees not to cooperate with investigators, and was untruthful in his statements to detectives.

Several days later, police shut Roggie's for a couple of days as part of their investigation.

Innocent, etc.

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Comments

Are the other Cleveland Circle people as surprised by this as I am?

"Roggie" as some in the neighborhood call him seems like an alright guy. He offered me a job bussing tables when I was in need of employment 5 summers ago. If it wasn't after I had accepted another offer, I would've worked for him.

Sure, he was bar owner whose interests didn't always align with those in the neighborhood, but the two sides were always amicable and never bitter.

He just never struck me as someone else who would actually engage in the type of activity that is alleged here. As far as I can remember since becoming a teenager (early 2000s) this is the only serious trouble that Roggie or his bar has been in.

Like I said, I don't know the guy well, but I can't shake my gut feeling that something here just doesn't add up.

Anyone else?

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you could "get a Grand Jury to indict a ham sandwich" comes to mind.

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From what I've heard, there is a lot of blow going through that place. Seems like a nice guy but perhaps his judgement was clouded

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Having worked for a while at the long defunct BBV that used to sit nextdoor I can guarantee there was nothing but shadiness in this whole deal.

If I'm not mistaken he owns multiple units in the building and many of the establishments have been rumored to serve as fronts (I never knew for what but I know he had a ton of illegal immigrants in the back, my grandpa is sarcastically saying 'really?!' but whatever.) I would not be surprised at any ties we found out this guy had or what he was in to.

Will be very interesting to see how far this goes in the press.

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all I know is they had a lunch deal cheaper than getting food in the BC dining hall and they let student bands perform in the basement. So I loved them!

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I live in the area-- the new ownership has been an absolute disaster. They've messed up the pizza, tried to mix a raw oyter bar with paper napkins and plastic plates, and got rid of some good beers.

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New owner?

To my knowledge, It has been the same owner since 2008 unless you are taking about the one on commonwealth ave.

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Yeah, what's up with that guy?!!1?

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Via BPD.

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Well that explains why this place has been closed for the past month. Hopefully he's forced to sell and something cool goes in there sans disgusting carpets.

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