Barnstable Police, Cape Cod DA NBC Boston

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The owner of a popular Cape Cod bar and restaurant is under investigation after video of a disturbing confrontation emerged.

Barnstable Police and the Cape & Islands District Attorney’s Office on Tuesday confirmed the investigation into the owner of Trader Ed’s in what they described in a press release as “a widely reported matter in the media and on social media platforms”.

The video shows a man using racial slurs against a black man, threatening to kill him and others, and stepping on his toe. The man the slurs were used against, Millyan Phillips, told NBC10 Boston the person speaking to him was John Shea, the owner of Trader Ed’s.

Phillips said the interaction took place outside another bar in downtown Hyannis. He had called 911 on Shea, who appeared to be driving impaired, and said things turned sour when Shea found out about the call.

A video that supposedly shows the incident shows the man telling Phillips, “Do you know who I am? Get the f— out of my town. Get the f— out of my town. You reuse my name, you’ll end up in a grave Use my name again, you’ll end up in a grave, you and all your friends.

He uses a racial slur for black people, and when asked what he said, he replies, “You’re a nice guy.” The man is also seen stepping on Phillips’ foot, which Phillips says was an assault.

He recalled, “And then after that he told me he was going to shoot me in the back of the neck with a shotgun.”

NBC10 Boston reached out to Shea and Trader Ed’s for comment, but did not hear back. The restaurant was closed on Tuesday.

On Friday, someone writing from the restaurant’s Facebook page replied to a post showing video of the incident which also showed the man who appeared to be Shea calling someone money and saying, “My family don’t tell you. does not look like” apologizing, as well as some explanations.

“I admit I was wrong! I apologize (sic)! Let’s make sure this isn’t about hate, please,” read one post, part of a va- back and forth in the comments.

It was not immediately clear who was writing from Trader Ed’s Facebook page, which was taken down on Monday.

Phillips said the interaction lasted several minutes. After fleeing, he called the police; he said he was told the incident was being investigated as a hate crime.

Barnstable Police told NBC10 Boston their civil rights/community resources officer is investigating the incident.

In Tuesday’s statement, local police and prosecutors wrote that they “recognize the community’s interest in pursuing this matter and will provide an update at the conclusion of the investigation.”

A popular Cape Town destination, Trader Ed’s has a swimming pool and turns into a nightclub with DJs on weekend nights.

NBC10 Boston’s Michael Pescaro contributed to this report.

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