Allegheny Co. restaurant that has defied state COVID-19 orders now facing more controversy

ALLEGHENY CO., Pa. — Two Allegheny County Sheriff’s Deputies are now in quarantine and are being investigated after photos of them at a Brentwood restaurant that was illegally operating circulated on social media.

The sheriff’s office confirmed both deputies seen in the photo inside the Crack’d Egg have been removed from road duty for now, and an internal investigation is underway.

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Officials are not releasing their names, but the deputies have been with the department for two and three years, respectively.

The picture, originally posted on the restaurant’s Facebook page Saturday night, has since been removed. However, the post is still up -- saying it was full from open to close Saturday in defiance of the state’s new COVID-19 mitigation orders.

In the post, the Crack’d Egg said “we stand and fight back the tyranny.” The new restrictions, given out by Gov. Tom Wolf, went into effect at 12:01 a.m. on Dec. 12. They include no indoor dining or indoor gatherings of more than 10 people.

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The photos included in the restaurant’s post show minimal mask wearing and no social distancing, which go against the new measures.

FLYER ADVERTISING TOY DRIVE WITH CONTROVERSIAL GROUP

The Crack’d Egg is now facing additional scrutiny for partnering with the Proud Boys for a toy drive. The restaurant recently advertised partnering with the group to collect toys that would be donated to Toys for Tots.

The flyer has since been removed from the restaurant’s Facebook page.

Described as western chauvinists, the Proud Boys is labeled as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

The legal advocacy center lists several factors on its website that led to the designation, including anti-Muslim rhetoric and violent tendencies.

“(Crack’d Egg) wanted to do something for under-privileged families, under-privileged children. They were approached by this organization to collaborate and do this, which we welcomed,” said Sy Lampl, the attorney representing the owners of Crack’d Egg.

The flyer stated this would be a Toys for Tots collection.

However, Sgt. Matthew Day, the Toys for Tots Coordinator for southern Allegheny County, pushed back -- saying they were never informed of the collection.

“We are aware that the business and the organization Proud Boys are illegally using the Toys For Tots’ Logo,” Day wrote in an email to Channel 11. “We do not support this collection campaign and will not accept any donations from them.”

Lampl said the toy drive is not affiliated with Toys for Tots or any other organization, but they will continue collecting items this week to donate.

When asked about the Crack’d Egg’s partnership with the Proud Boys, Lampl said he knows very little about the group.

“I’m not going to endorse them, I’m not going to condemn them,” he said. “We wanted to do charity. If another organization from a different political or non-political mindset wants to do charity, we welcome the opportunity to do that.”

Most customers outside of the restaurant on Monday said they were unaware of the toy drive or who was hosting it.

Keith Miller knows several staff members and plans on discussing it with them.

“I’ll go in and talk to them and see what their thoughts are on that before I make my own views and opinions,” he said.

To donate to Toys for Tots, click here.

Allegheny Co. restaurant that has defied state COVID-19 orders is facing more controversy