Dundalk bar patron speaks out about arrest
The calls, comments and emails are pouring in about the Baltimore County police raid of the Black Hole Rock Club in Dundalk. As we reported Monday, cops swarmed the bar and shut it down, alleging rampant drug dealing.
(I'd love to talk to longtime patrons of the bar, and those who oppose it. Please email me at peter.hermann@baltsun.com. You must be willing to be quoted by name).
Seven people, including the manager and four patrons, were charged with drug offenses, the county police chief wants to padlock the joint as a public nuisance and other officials said the building was in such bad shape it had to be condemned. Read statement from Baltimore County police.
One of the patrons charged with drug possession, Elizabeth Kim Lee Walger, 25, called me this morning to complain about her name being published, and then she offered an explanation for her being there.
She told me she had stopped going because of problems but returned when a friend asked her to come see him spin records. She picked the wrong evening. Cops came in and she got caught up in the case.
“I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time,” he told me, complaining about being identified. “My family is going to see that. That’s what I’m mainly worried about. It’s damning. There’s no way I’m going to be able to flip that and make it look okay.”
Walger said that the bar used to be a place to go for good music and to meet new people. “People went there to hang out and make new friends,” she said. “It used to be about a lifestyle. It wasn’t about drugs and selling drugs. It was about the music and the people. Then a lot of people stopped going because of what it turned into. That night was the first night I had been back in three months.”
Walger said she got caught up in the arrests because a group of underage girls told police they had seen her in the bathroom smoking marijuana. She denies this. “There is no proof that I had it whatsoever,” she told me.








Comments
simple urine test will prove if she was smoking marijuana...
Posted by: James | August 16, 2011 12:14 PM
Can the police in Baltimore County arrest someone because somebody else thinks they says that person smoking a controlled substance? According to the case search Ms. Wagler is divorced and failed to pay a hospital bill, but I don't see any criminal history. I'd like to know more about this CDS and paraphernalia the county police claims she had in her possession.
Posted by: Cham | August 16, 2011 12:19 PM
This place had a very negative vibe. My band played there and the manager refused to pay us. This is the only time in 33 years that we were ripped off. Good ridence !
Posted by: dave cawkwell | August 16, 2011 12:29 PM
Sounds like a pot-head or addicts defense. To say "there is no proof that I had it" is an entirely different thing from I did not have it. So you flushed the proof when someone rushed in? You smoked it all up before the raid? Whatever the case is, you would do well to stop talking about your criminal charges, especially to the newspaper reporters and just wait until you have your day in court to try to clear your name.
Posted by: Jeff | August 16, 2011 12:34 PM
why let "innocent until proven guilty" get in the way of a news story?
Posted by: bill984 | August 16, 2011 12:35 PM
so she called to complain about her name being published... and in you showing sympathy to her... you create a whole blog with her quotes and picture up. Really classy Pete.
Posted by: Aaron | August 16, 2011 1:15 PM
And so she has already started her practice of lying for everyone...lol. Real funny another one at the wrong place at the wrong time....Obviously she had something on her in order to be held with a bail and have made it through processing besides it surely was one of the ones who didnt go to jail that told on em. Was it a bad place? Absolutly. Were there drugs there? Apparantly? Did people get caught in the raid? Yeppers. Will they all try to lie their ways out of it. Without a doubt!!!! If you are on that bench you belong there. I know plenty of kids in Towson that think there S#$% don't stink but it does just like all else u get caught so stop whining. If you wasn't in a bar it wouldn't have happened. Ask anyone in prison least they'll tel you IT WAS THEIR BEST THINKING THAT GOT EM THERE!!!
Posted by: Crazeetown tattoos | August 16, 2011 1:42 PM
Classify the raid under expensive civic improvement. Did I read 100 cops for 7 arrests? Must have been a slow night in eastern Baltco........
Posted by: mdr | August 16, 2011 2:02 PM
unless she was charged with actual possession of a narcotic, she should not of been included in the article.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 16, 2011 2:25 PM
The black hole was my favorite club to go to, I have been there well over 100 times the environment there was what kept bringing me back it really became like a second home to me, I met all kinds of people during the 3 year time span I went there but the re occurring quality in almost everyone I met there was their friendliness and just how polite everyone was, the owner chris I seen often times was looking after peoples well being, people smoking cigarettes was an issue I don't know why that was allowed to go on but all this talk of people openly using drugs and this talk about the distribution of drugs is a complete exaggeration people are buying and using drugs at every club its an unfortunate truth in this society, but raids and arrests like these are even more unfortunate, and even more preventable.
Posted by: Derrick Dent | August 16, 2011 2:48 PM
It would be wrong to immediately conclude Black Hole was a drug haven for the ill induced. Perhaps from the backend, where operations were focused on the drug culture, but from the frontend, Black Hole was the foundation to good times, a place you could meet new people and just be you. Its unfortunate what has transcended from the many years but it would be a mistake to say it was always like this.
Posted by: Dana | August 16, 2011 2:54 PM
Ha. "there is no proof that I ever had it" is not a statement of an innocent person.
Posted by: john | August 16, 2011 2:58 PM
She needed one of those old T-shirts that says "I'm only here for the beer."
Posted by: bilrux | August 16, 2011 3:06 PM
That building/bar/night club has been a source of problems since the 1970's when it was called Gus's Tavern. It's had many many names since it was the Gray Manor Inn back in the 50's-60's. I remember the house across the street had a drunk run into it. The fence was always messed up because of the drunks that came from the bar. They'd change the name and everything was quiet for a while, then it would start all over again. I say bulldoze the building and and plant some trees.
Posted by: Dan | August 16, 2011 3:24 PM
Why do you feel the need to "quote them by name"? If they don't give their name, you won't use their version of the story? Whatever happened to remaining annonymous and still getting the point across? I'd be interested in reading the stories from the "quoted" folks.
Posted by: Dan | August 16, 2011 3:37 PM
Yeah, the manager lied to our band and then cut our set short so he could close early even though there were still customers. Shady people, and shady place. Sad thing is, it wasn't always like that. Used to be a good place to see local bands. Hope it can go back to that way.
And cops don't arrest someone because someone says they saw you smoking weed.
And Aaron, she contacted "Pete" to set the story straight and to give her side of it so he was trying to do her a favor.
Posted by: Ken | August 16, 2011 3:40 PM
Guilty be association even if you didn't have or smoke it.... why would you be in an establishment giving law enforcement the opportunity to pin these on charges on you. Responsibilty should have told to go elsewhere. If you witness the crime and don't report it you become an accessory....
Posted by: saltapeppaketchup | August 16, 2011 3:44 PM
The reverse onus of proof in drug-possession cases is incompatible with the rule of law and therefore cannot be recognized by any court anywhere. In other words, it is UNIVERSALLY UNCONSTITUTIONAL. Besides, the economics of the drug trade imply that criminal sanctions are self-defeating unless concentrated on RETAIL SALES. See http://is.gd/oenwod for details.
Posted by: Gavin R. Putland | August 16, 2011 5:23 PM
i actually know this girl.....she doesnt smoke weed.......she doesnt do anything....shes been a friend of mine for about 5 months now...and shes falsely accused.... this is bull
Posted by: Jeremy | August 16, 2011 6:33 PM
She was just arrested on the "say so" of some underaged girls? R I G H T ! ! ! !
And if you believe that, I have a bridge to sell you in NYC! I can see it now: Police: "Someone told me you were somking weed. I'm placing you under arrest now." R I G H T ! ! ! ! Still interested in that bridge?
Posted by: Key West | August 16, 2011 6:52 PM
Wow that's priceless girls get busted for being underage so they rat out some random person
Posted by: mike smith | August 16, 2011 9:00 PM
I know her also from work, and she is really nice, not a druggie.
Posted by: Ethan | August 16, 2011 9:16 PM
I went when it was the Zu about 8 to 10 years ago. Would see some good rock bands on the weekends. One night I walked in got a beer went to the bathroom two guys are smoking crack in the stall. Crack is not a good smell and smells nothing like pot. Drank my beer and I have not gone back
Posted by: Phil | August 16, 2011 11:32 PM
i dont know the lady,but i do know the place...
if were gonna talk,lets b real......
it does have a problem w people getting high in the open
and this lady is a somewhat older than the clientele in general for this club....
all in all,not a good sign for sobriety,i hope im wrong,but.......
Posted by: Anonymous | August 17, 2011 1:45 AM
Beth is really nice. I dont think people who don't know her or the true story should judge her. Things happen and the possibilities are always there.
I personally believe she may be falsely accused. We'll see what happens
Posted by: Agirl | August 17, 2011 2:48 AM
I agree, the place had it coming to them. Hadn't been there in over 2 years. Stopped going for multiple reasons. The owner was a nasty, drugged out, liar. The people there were sheisty and too messed up on drugs to "enjoy the scene". That place was a joke. Their bartenders were rude, too.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 17, 2011 9:47 AM
"simple urine test will prove if she was smoking marijuana..." --- it may prove she smoked something in the past month but won't be able to pinpoint it to that evening and especially not for the few hours she was at that bar
Posted by: r | August 18, 2011 9:33 AM
Hello i was one of the ppl there beth really is a good person... If someone smokes pot thats not as bad as the CDS that were found maybe she was just at the wrong place at the wrong time... Everywhere you go the are drugs... Those people need help... There addicts not murderers... Picking poor kids off that were just trying to have fun and dance... But thank God they got all the bad stuff out... Now its time to reinvent the secen and give it a good rep! Make it about the music again and not fouces on the negative because there really are awesome friends to be made and good vibes of music
Posted by: Anonymous | August 18, 2011 1:23 PM
This was a 15 month undercover investigation, so somewhere during this time Ms Walger may have did something to put her in the crosshairs of the investigation & get her a ride in the paddy wagon. She obviously hasn't lawyered up yet, I can't believe a defense attorney would let his/her client contact the local daily rag. As far as the # of officers on site for the raid, maybe they were expecting more patrons or suspects, & their is safety in numbers!
Posted by: Jeff | August 19, 2011 8:51 AM
I used to spin records there a long long time ago. Was nothing but bikers and white trash. Vice used to hang in there then and just watch. Nothing has changed. Still a sh*thole.
Posted by: Bobby | August 19, 2011 1:29 PM
There's no way she was arrested and held on a "hear-say". come on people! Wise up!
Whether right or wrong, stop dwelling and let's figure out what to do from here! Moving forward is the only way we can repair the damage!
Posted by: Danielle B | August 19, 2011 2:16 PM
This girl is dumb to think we.should believe her excuses...I'm not usually quick to judge but really....
Posted by: Bella | August 31, 2011 3:11 AM