A fight at the Miners Tavern on Thursday night, June 26, ended with four arrests and a few minor injuries.
And it also ended with some hard feelings between officials at the American Legion, owner of the bar, and the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office.
Those arrested were:
• The bar’s manager, Sandy Blades, 64, of Silverton, on a felony menacing charge and a misdemeanor charge of reckless endangerment after allegedly retrieving a gun from his truck during the fight.
• Donald Curnow, 25, of Silverton, on two misdemeanor charges — third-degree assault and disorderly conduct.
• Benjamin Williams, 32, of Silverton, on a felony criminal impersonation charge, and three misdemeanors — third-degree assault, disorderly conduct and false reporting to authorities.
• Andrew Salazar, 39, of Silverton, on two misdemeanors — third-degree assault and disorderly conduct.
Salazar and Williams were arrested at the scene Thursday night. Blades and Curnow were arrested Friday after further investigation by the sheriff’s office.
Sheriff Sue Kurtz said her department is “still putting the case together.” She noted the District Attorney’s Office “will make the final decision on charges.”
Jacobs said deputies were called to the Miners Tavern at about 10 p.m. on the night of
June 26.
“We found there had been a fight involving three or four people,” Jacobs said. “The best we were able to determine it stemmed from the fact that the manager, Sandy (Blades), was denying entrance to two individuals (Williams and Salazar) and things got out of hand.”
Curnow apparently rushed to the aid of Blades, who then retrieved a .45 long Colt revolver from his truck, Jacobs said.
No shots were fired. The four involved in the fight sustained minor injuries.
But Legion Post Commander John Ross says the sheriff’s office shouldn’t have charged the bar manager, Blades, and Curnow, who came to Blades’ aid during the fight.
Ross said it was unfair that the “two perpetrators” face misdemeanor charges from the incident, while Blades is facing a felony.
“I don’t think that’s justice,” Ross said.
Jacobs says he understands why some are sympathetic to Blades and feel he was just defending himself.
“The folks at the Miners Tavern are friends of Sandy’s. Therefore, they look at it and are being supportive of him. We have to look at the law.”
“Sandy went to his truck to retrieve a firearm,” Jacobs said. “Look at the statute and you’ll see why things ended up the way they did.”

A second incident involving a gun
Hours later, early Friday morning, another, unrelated incident involving a gun led to the arrest of Jeffrey Salazar, 40, of Ouray on three felony charges.
Sheriff Kurtz says Salazar was charged with first-degree burglary, second-degree assault and felony menacing.
He was arrested after surrendering to the sheriff’s office Friday afternoon.
Kurtz said that early Saturday, Salazar was involved in an incident at the home of Robert Hook, 41, on the 700 block of Empire Street.
“Mr. Salazar is alleged to have gone to Mr. Hook’s house, kicked in the door, pistol whipped him, made threats and left,” Kurtz said.
Salazar is still being held at the La Plata County Jail.