The owner of Club 410 is hopping mad that the city's police department has padlocked their Northeast Baltimore establishment, citing shootings and other crime. Police are taking a strong stance against businesses that they say tolerate crime. But Tomeka Harris, the operator and manager of Club 410, feels they countered every argument at a public hearing last month.

The padlock went on yesterday at 5 p.m.

Harris told the Baltimore Sun's police reporter, Justin Fenton, that several incidents cited by police happened outside or even blocks away, and presented evidence that the perpetrators and suspects had likely come from elsewhere. As for a fight that occurred inside the club, she said club security handled it and that extra safety measures were implemented to ensure it wouldn't happen again. The deputy major of the Northeastern District, Darryl DeSousa, testified that the club was cooperating with police and that conditions had improved.
 
But DeSousa's superior, Maj. Delmar Dickson, said things were only better because police were directing disproportionate resources to the area. On Tuesday, a hearing examiner ruled for the police department, and the club was padlocked at 5 p.m. yesterday.
 
"We addressed every situation," said Harris, of Havre de Grace. "We don't condone violence. It just shows that the cops can do whatever they want."
 
Harris claims that her club was under no pressure until a shooting occurred outside. Since then, she said, a detective has been harassing employees and patrons, seeking information. She claims that the detective told her that he would have her shut down if she did not provide a name of the shooter. Not long after, the department initiated the padlock proceedings.
 
"I told them over and over, the victim was not a patron of my business. I have no information."

Police did not counter this claim at the hearing but have taken what a department spokesman says is a "zero-tolerance" position on violence. Police say the club serves as a catalyst for violence and cited several shootings nearby as evidence. Authorities are trying to get clubs and other businesses to take more responsibility fighting violence.

Harris said she wants to fight the police's padlock powers, but is not in a financial position to do so. "I've been draining capital, just trying to survive," Harris said. "But I'm gonna fight, because it's wrong."