150K bail for attempted murder nice should be 250K or higher

The Light house is a nice place with good food and great service. Sometimes bad people show up at good places

This incident is horrible however you can't blame the establishment for the actions of its patrons. I'm sure Jimmy and his staff did everything in their power to prevent and contain this incident but fights break out in the nicest and most upstanding bars just as much as they do in "dives". Please don't pass judgement on an establishment you've never been in on the Internet, remember your comments can and will affect the livelihood of the Lighthouse ownership and staff.

They call it the Fight House for a reason. Dirt Bags hand here. No wonder there were problems. Check the reocrds, this place is BAD!!!

Hey Ted....Jimmy is part of the problem. Wise up!

Caitlen I am so very sorry for your dad and your family I pray he recovers completly from this terrible beating

I can't believe this... Michael, to my knowledge, was a good man... Idk what would possess him to do such a terrible thing... Caitlen, I am very sorry for your dad. Praying for you and your family.

Caitlin, we send our love and prayers to you and your family. I know your dad can do this. Stay strong sweetie.

The victim did not die last night he was moved to the ICU. He is NOT dead. Stop spreading rumours.

I've lived down the block from the Lighthouse Tavern for 10 years and there has NEVER been an incident such as this! They have great staff, great food and for the most part great people hanging out there. I've brought my children there for dinner & lunch since they were little and have never had a problem. It's most unfortunate that people who can't handle their liquor take a day like St. Patrick's to go out and get beer muscles! This incident is not a reflection of the establishment but of the person who had to go and ruin everyone's fun all because he couldn't hold his liquor! My thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Robert!

Your all passing judgment on people and places, but if you were not there KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT!!!! Stories esp. Ones in the Patch are not necessarily the full truth!

The Lighthouse has quite a history. They don't call it the FIGHTHOUSE for nothing. Just cause people have gotten older and slowed down doesn't mean this place hasn't had its share of the problems over the years. As far as good food goes, it is better than Subway.

Glad to hear the good news Caitlin. That guy Phil C. is constantly saying lies on here. He should be banned from the patch for posting such a terrible lie.
As for the Light House, its not there fault. They have very good food and service. I havent been there in a couple of yrs. But like others said, people get into assorted problems everywhere. Its sad that this happened, I hope Mr. Bethanis recovers completely.

Exactly!! It takes two, not ONE to start a fight, so stop passing Judgment!! The lighthouse is not a dive, and just because you HEARD, doesn't mean you have to report it!

The bottom line here is that someone was hurt really bad. Regardless of the situation of who started or the establishment, It should never have gotten to the point where somone is fighting for their life. This afftected two familes, one is in the hospital and one is in jail. Not worth it regardless. They were adults not teenagers. Praying for a full recovery for Mr. Bethanis!

My personal oppinion,ALL bars over serve patrons!! they dont want to lose that extra buck,but regardless what triggered this noone deserves to be beat to a coma state!!! a bar fight yes they happen every now and then but to continue to beat a man when he is down is SICK!! Prayers to the Bathanis family And a speedy recovery for Bob!

How about the bar not serve people until they are so drunk they do not know right from wrong. I know they're not babysitter's, but all bars should be kicking people out way before this type of situation happens.

Absolutely unacceptable. Period. Michael grew up across the street from my mom and they were bestfriends, she says he was good back then, so I guess you never kno when someone will snap. I hope the poor man who got nearly killed comes out of this the same as he was and takes this all the way thru the courts!

I agree, leave the marijuana smokers alone they don't hurt anything except the wallet

Not to start a big banter here, but it takes two people to fight in a bar. I have never known someone to just attack another person in a bar for no reason. I am sure that BOTH of these individuals had something to do with this. Unfortunately, it got a little too far.......how do we all know that the guy in the hospital did not throw the first punch.....everyone always talks about the outcome of the fight and not what started it because that makes people read the article.

@Joe Stewart ... We know because it's on video and BOb never threw a single punch. Wether words were exchanged or not I don't know but he does not deserve to be on a ventilator.

Hey Caitlin, his he doing better today? We are so worried. If you guys need anything at all, walk/feed the dog, dinner-have your grandpa call my dad. He was gonna call but he knows you all must be so overwhelmed. I know the trek from down here to the hospital is taxing along with everything else your going through. Prayers and love!

Mike is a family man n great father if u weren't there ten u no nothing he pushed n pushed till he left him no choice

What a terrible incident and so sad for all parties involved. I hope the victim make s a full recovery.
However, I don't understand those that are blaming it on the bar and REALLY don't understand those that are blaming it on St. Patrick's Day! Really?!?!

I've been to the Lighthouse Tavern a few times in the early-mid evenings and never felt uncomfortable or in a bad spot. Foods been very tasty and staff very courteous.
I'm a 48year old white collar guy with a desk job. Hope the victim has a speedy and full recovery.

Wow! Harr 9 there is always a choice. If he is not able to make that choice for himself maybe it is better that the good old corrections officers make sure they help with that. A better man would have had his family on the back of his mind telling him not to take it to that level. Show some compassion for the parents and children of the victim. It is really sad you see it that way.

I love when people say "you don't know, you weren't there, don't judge...etc." What these people are failing to recognize is, if you behave like an adult, don't break the law, don't drink in excess, are in control of you're faculties, are a productive member of society, realize and fear consequences, LEARN TO WALK AWAY... your name wouldn't be in the newspaper, and you would never be the topic of conversation. You're right, I don't know either one of them. I feel terrible for the families of both and especially that someone got injured. However; this situation was totally avoidable in a million different ways. And for those defending the Lighthouse...I'm sure during the day it's a lovely place to bring your family, I'm sure the food is fantastic, I'm sure the wait-staff works hard. BUT, the establishment should be held accountable, not fully, but partially, for not preventing or stopping the fight before it got to that point where a man is in critical condition. This wasn't a one shot deal, this was a pummeling. This was a brutal, guy on the ground, kicked and punched in the head fight. If there's a bar, there should be security, even if its only on a weekend and ESPECIALLY during known drinking holidays. Just my opinion, which as I pointed out above, is my god given right to have. Happy frickin Monday. :)

@ Laura.....Well Said.

Rtght on Laura you said it all.

Laura, its your God given right in the United States. Let's not forget that in some countries women have no rights.

@harr 9 lives.. doesnt matter if these people envolved are nice people or not,it does not warrant someone to put ur hands on another person!!! not to mention continue to beat him when he is down! just because someone is a family man or absent parent doesnt mean this type of behavior is accepted, I feel bad for both family's that suffered from this and im sure there is more to the story that will eventually come out.some people just shouldnt be allowed to drink if they can't act like adults.

The victim should have thought of his family u weren't there, as soon as I saw him I said to my friend, he's gonna start a fight tonight n look wat happened. Don't get me wrong I pray the victim makes a full recovery but if u go to the lighthouse on st.pats n then act like that then I would b surprised if it didn't happen

Ur rite Kristie n if they do drink wear a muzzle

The establishment should be held accountable? Exactly what's wrong with society today. People are <supposed> to be responsible and held accountable for their own actions, including how much they drink, getting behind the wheel when they've been drinking, fighting etc. "Oh but they served him too much." Really?? How about... "He drank too much." It's always someone else's fault when something goes wrong.

@laura its hard to walk away wen someone keeps yelling n visiting ur table.

Tgodlike I bet u r. I've been friends with mike long time n if u know him so well I guess ur no angel. Hey, but at least by ur name ur godlike. Ur a joke n he won't get 25yrs as much as u want to c him suffer. Let me guess did he make fun of u in high school or u just an idiot. Don't worry gods got ur back. P16

The tavern is responsible to a degree. Just check the number of lawsuits against bars for overserving persons who get in MV accidents. I hope they have insurance because this is gonna be some law suit. It doesn't matter that they both had problem pasts, the bar has an obligation to prevent things like this from happening. Maybe the record should be checked to see how often the PD was called to the bar and how many DUI arrests came out of patrons having their last drink of the night there. And, on St. Patty's Day, they should have know better and had adequate security. Thank God no law abiding citizens were hurt.

@ harr...last time I checked 911 was a toll free call. and furthermore, your comment just drives home the fact that security should have been present.
@ Don Cook...So you believe that an establishment that serves alcohol has no liability and/or holds no accountability whatsoever when something like this happens? Wow, they should drop their liability insurance then...save a couple bucks, right? I said they should be partially responsible, not fully. While I agree the ultimate responsibility lies with the two individuals, immediate action from the establishment could have nipped it prior to it getting that far. The establishment's hands are not totally clean here.

Please refrain from making comments that imply potential criminality or make unfounded and unproven personal attacks against any individuals, groups or businesses. Thank you.

I wasn't there that night but I have been in a similar situation myself. It takes a lot of anger for a man to brutalize someone like that. Usually that person has been pushed verbally beyond his breaking point. Sadly, that breaking point gets shorter and shorter as the drinks continue to flow. No matter how bad you want to put a guy through the pavement, the end result will always be the same. Him in the hospital and you in Jail. I don't need to have been there to know how this went down. It's almost always the same and it almost always ends up just like this. The problem is that grown men forget that they are grown men when enough booze has been consumed and now you have one man fighting for his life and another sitting in jail and in reality he too will be fighting for his life. It's heart breaking, for them, and for the familes that are left behind. How do you provide for your family when you're hospitalized or locked up? You never think about that when you're drunk, never. I can only hope that the man in the hospital recovers and the man that was arrersted can have some kind of life after this is over. If not for themselves then for the people who they are supposed to provide for.

Is there censorship for 'implying' or hyptheticall speaking? Why not the is the United States and the United States is controled by the liberal media. What first amendment rights???

I lived in Barnegat and went to the lighthouse it is not bad all establishments have problums . I know both of them it is a bad situation for all involved . I gust wot to know what took Waertown PD so long the cop shop is just 2 min from there .

It amazes me that they don't legalize POT. Last time I checked...stoned people don't create the problems that Alcohol does. Alcohol is a much more volatile drug and has many more problems associated with it.

Probably because the fight happened outside the bar and most likely was over in 15 to 20 seconds.

Okay Folks,
I've read the article a couple of times now and haven't seen any reference to there being three or any number of off duty cops present, inside or outside.
Unless you were actually there and recognized these people as off duty cops how do you know they were there?

Nice the people who brought him there left out the back door when do they get charges serve and protect ?

Sounds like Waretown police should do an internal invest if cops just stood by. If they don't the prosecutor should.