Supporters of Black Hole club respond; police want to padlock building
Last week's raid by Baltimore County police on the Black Hole Rock Club in Dundalk has triggered a wave of responses from readers. Many support the club and complain the police unfairly targeted the manager, who authorities suspect of at least condoning rampant drug distribution.
The bar has a troubled history in the neighborhood and with the liquor board. Read today's article on the contentious past and police efforts to padlock the two-story, barn-like building. Here, read a previous blog post that has a lengthy police statement detailing their side of the raid. It's worth reading before you get to the next part (pictures are by The Sun's Joe Soriero).
Thursday night, I got a series of emails from former patrons. Here are there stories:
Nneamaka Odum
I feel as if because it was a 15 month investigation they were trying to get as many people arrested as possible. After reading what Beth said about being wrongly accused; it makes me sad that some arrests were by word of mouth and reckless assumptions. I also find it disturbing that police officers are trying to use the padlock law despite the fact that no convictions were made. Police officers are servants to the community and it seems a rather selfish and unlawful pursuit to attempt to bend around a law to shut down a club that does not have any lawful reason to be permanently shut down with the exception of its physical condition.
Despite what has happened at the club I still think there is a possibility to re-open it later with better influence. There will always be a group who loved this establishment because of its connections over the years. Trying to break those connections apart does not help anyone and only furthers the county police's agenda to "keep the peace". They should look into assisting the rest of the people who attended the club AND the people who want a safer community instead of being one-sided. Note that you cannot get rid of “trouble”, or get rid of people that attend these venues just by closing them down. Shutting down clubs left and right will not solve the community's problem; So rather than dispersing of these areas we should come to an amicable solution.
Daniel McDonough
the black hole was full of wonderful people, with an everyone loves everyone attitude. I only went there to have a good time, what's so wrong about that? i met many great friends and have had plenty of awesome SOBER times there. i was in attendance the night the hole was raided and was appalled at the brutish methods the police used. i was there to have a good time instead i had guns drawn on me was put to the ground and made stay there for an hour (and i was one of the first allowed to leave!) before they even began the unnecessary searches. a lot of people i know were stepped on and one of my good friends even had his glasses and head stepped on by an officer. i know for a fact MY name wasn't on the warrant nor were my friends and the majority of the other people in attendance. despite what the media reports i have never once seen anyone in danger while in attendance at the black hole, it was a place of love that has sense been desecrated.
ravers are people too. P.L.U.R.
Jon Bova
My name is Jon Bova, I was a regular attender of concerts and raves at the black hole. I wanted to write you an email because of the request of regular attenders to give their input. First of all, I'd like to say that I was horrified when I heard the news that the black hole was getting raided. I was down the street at royal farms, on my way there to have a fun night out. The black hole has been a great place to hang out..I've never felt threatened, in fact, I always felt welcomed there. The people who regularly attend, were awesome! I became friends with many. Every time I went, sure there were people using drugs, but no where near the amount of drugs that you'll find at strip clubs or 21+ clubs. I've been approached and asked if I wanted to buy drugs 10 times as much on the streets of the inner harbor than inside the black hole. People who do drugs are going to do them with or without the black hole, so thank you baltimore county police for ruining the fun for everyone based on a few peoples mistakes. Let's not forget about the brutality that occurred that night. 100+ police officers, swat and whoever else came....pushing people to the ground, waving guns at innocent people etc. It's crazy, that was just way over done. Besides, the police might have shut down the black hole, but they HAVE NOT and WILL NOT ever shut down the rave scene. We're a family and will never stop raving.
Comments
As I sit here and read these posts I get increasingly frustrated. These "pro" clubbers seem to have no grasp of right and wrong.
Last time I looked, marijuana and the other drugs confiscated are ILLEGAL.
If I'm in a club or bar and I see someone using or suspect illegal activity, I AM LEAVING. Wake up!
If I'm standing next to Billy Pot Smoker and
the cops raid my fine establishment and order us to the ground and Billy decides to throw his stash between us on the ground, do you think I have an argument?
"Mr. Policeman, that's not my weed"!
Sure kid.
I know it's not my weed, but I'm going to get popped. I should have left.
Fun or not.....
Good people or not....
The place was a public nuisance.
There were too many complaints and something had to be done.
Posted by: Johnny Yuma | August 19, 2011 10:29 AM
Three cheers for the war on drugs! Forget about all the murders and violence in this city. I want my tax dollars spent on 100+ police officers to stomp on college kids glasses.
Posted by: HyacinthBucket | August 19, 2011 10:41 AM
Drugs , underage drinking, illeagal goings-on at a bar? NO WAY! Come on people, we see/hear this everyday! It's nothing new. 15mo investigation?? Of course! Let's get as many as we can in one sweep! Have you noticed that all the people arrested that evening were not even residents of Dundalk??? Have you thought about that?? hmmm...well, I have. Residents of Dundalk and nearby neighbors don't even want to go there. Heck, I'm born and raised right across the street and I won't be seen going there now. Back in the day, when it was the ZU and some real bands were there selling out the place, I was there! Would you want to live nextdoor to that! Not only is it the ugliest building ever, it's not even maintained! Grass grown up in the front for the rats to build their forts. Old metal awnings that once hung are now in the parking lot. Old wooden road block type things in the front to cage in the smokers. It's truely a sight! Now, I know there are much worse things to see in Dundalk (like I said, I'm born-n-raied there) but look at where this establishment is sitting?? Grey Manor is a beautiful community of single family homes that are well maintained. Even the old Del Capri that shares a parking lot w the Hole, is keeping up appearances.
Not one person can make every person happy in this situation. On a serious note, this place is in trouble. I'd hate to see it shut down for good. So all those supporters out there that give a damn about the place in all it's glory ("ravers forever") why don't you get involved??? Do something about it! Make the calls, write letters, clean up the place. What could you lose? I'm sure amongst all you ravers and Hole fans there are a few talented and smart individuals that could really make the place into something bigger and better then ever! Instead of fighting the law, why not choose a winning battle? Pick up a paint brush, a weedeater, a mop! Send out fliers to get the community involved, network on FB, twitter, any other social circle. People like to help! Rave out while doing it too...sounds like a heck of a party! It's a win-win: you get a great place to continue to rave/rock out AND you get the community to back you up! LET'S GO!
Or...just do what Dundalk gets it rep for....nothing at all! Sit and complain about what's happening. Blame the police, the community, the owners, etc. The party will go on (somewhere else) underage drinking, drugs and all.
Posted by: Danielle B | August 19, 2011 1:52 PM
Johnny Yuma, do you grasp the difference between legality and morality? For example it is immoral to kill another person however it is legal when the death penalty or war is on the table. It is illegal to steal but it is not immoral if it is a mother stealing to feed her starving children. It is immoral to send a whole family out of a home that has been in their family for generations to die in the cold but banks and the government do it all the time. I could continue on with these examples ad naseum but I will digress. I truly pity you if you believe right and wrong are in any way connected to legal or illegal. Maybe the issue isn't that we don't know right from wrong and more that you don't know the difference between illegal and wrong.
Posted by: anon | August 19, 2011 7:02 PM
I am curious why the Sun chose to post comments from supporters of a bar which allows underage drinking, open drug use and continues to violate fire codes. Why arent you posting an article about the neighbors who literally cheered when the place was raided? Ravers think it's about them but fail to realize the impact a place like that has on a community. You preach peace love unity respect but have given nothing but disrespect the baltimore county police department.
Posted by: thereason | August 20, 2011 9:09 PM
Since when has legal and illegal determined what's right or wrong, Johnny Yuma? It used to be illegal to drink or possess alcohol. Now it isn't. Does the fact that it's legal now make it more "right" for you, or are you just hiding behind excuses because you don't like this particular club?
Posted by: Julian Alexander | October 4, 2011 11:05 PM