Cops want to shut nightclub
Baltimore's police commissioner has asked the city's liquor board last night to shut down the Velvet Rope nightclub on Redwood Street after a disturbance just before midnight Thursday caused a near riot downtown (photo from city police at left).
Frederick H. Bealefeld held a news conference in which he said people were lucky they didn't get hurt. About 300 angry patrons stormed the doors of the nightclub after the promoter oversold a concert featuring southern rapper Yo Gotti.
I talked to the manging partner of the new club, Tracye Stafford, and she described it as a "promoters nightmare" but said it was unclear from her comments whether the concert was actually oversold. She told me 600 people were inside the hall that has a capacity for 949, but that the line outside grew too long and security locked the doors.
Police said the patrons begain throwing cones and street signs and that private security guards using foggers sprayed them with Mace. The liquor board cannot pull the license without a hearing, which they have to schedule no earlier than 10 days.
Here is a statement from police:
BALTIMORE, MD / February 25, 2010 – Baltimore City Police Department (BPD) has requested a liquor license suspension of the Velvet Rope Nightclub after an oversold concert event led to a significant public disturbance in the city’s downtown area. City Police are also investigating the possibility instituting padlock proceedings.
On February 24th at approximately 11:50 p.m., a crowd of several hundred people outside 200 E. Redwood Street attempted to gain entry into an oversold venue within the establishment. Private security officers began indiscriminately dispensing mace from a fogger device which immediately incited the crowd and caused significant disorder.
Based on the gross misconduct of the business, Police Commissioner Frederick H. Bealefeld, III conferred with Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and requested that the Liquor Board immediately close the establishment for public safety reasons.
“The actions and response of the Velvet Rope nightclub posed a significant public safety risk to our community, said Bealefeld. “We will not tolerate any reckless business owners who put public safety at risk.”
Mayor Rawlings-Blake echoed the department’s concern. "Baltimore has a vibrant and growing night time entertainment industry, and we cannot allow a few irresponsible business owners to put the public at risk,” Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said. “It is important that this matter is fully investigated and that the State Liquor Board take immediate steps to review the investigation.”
In excess of fifty (50) officers from across the city along with the FoxTrot Police Helicopter and resources from the Special Operations Section were needed to restore order to the situation. It is the Department’s assessment that the actions of the business were very negligent and would have escalated without police intervention.
