A man’s tragic death after falling at a New York bar has led to criminal charges—not for the fall itself, but for what bar staff allegedly did afterward. Police say employees at Dave’s Long Pond Pub in Greece, New York, tried to cover up what happened after 68-year-old John Acito hit his head and passed out, ultimately dying from his injuries.
Man Falls, Passes Out—Help Comes Too Late
On the night of December 16, 2025, Acito, a regular at the bar who had been grieving the loss of his wife since 2023, stayed at the pub into the early hours of the morning. According to Greece Police, surveillance footage shows Acito staggering and falling, striking his head on a table and then the floor. He remained unconscious for 30 to 40 minutes, lying on the ground while staff went about their closing duties.
Around 3:24 a.m., police were called to the bar’s parking lot, where they found Acito unconscious. He was taken to the hospital with a serious head injury and remained in a coma for two weeks, before passing away on January 1, 2026.
The medical examiner ruled his death accidental, caused by complications from the head injury. However, investigators say the story bar staff gave them about what happened was not accurate.
Employees Accused of Cover-Up
Three employees at the bar — owner David Geer, 64; cook John Moore, 58; and bartender Crystal McWilliams, 42 — have now been charged with felony evidence tampering. While they aren’t charged in connection to Acito’s death, police say the group tried to cover up what happened that night.
Det. Sgt. Jeffrey Dill told reporters that Acito was still being served alcohol after 3 a.m., well beyond the legal 2 a.m. closing time in Monroe County. The staff reportedly dragged Acito’s unconscious body toward the front door to make it appear that he had collapsed outside. Then, according to police, they mopped the floor to erase the drag marks.
“They concocted a story to protect the bar,” Sgt. Dill told WHAM. Surveillance footage also shows staff putting Acito’s jacket on him while he was unconscious, then moving him.
Delay in Medical Care Questioned
Although the medical examiner stated that the delay in getting Acito help did not contribute directly to his death, police believe the employees missed an opportunity to possibly save him.
“They had a chance to get him help right away, and they didn’t,” said Dill. “Instead, they focused on cleaning up and trying to protect the bar.”
Next Legal Steps
All three employees — Geer, Moore, and McWilliams — are now facing felony tampering with evidence charges. They are expected to appear in Greece Town Court, though exact court dates have not been released.
