Crime Scene

I spent several hours with a dozen officers barhopping through Spring Valley on Thursday night into this morning.

The two-hour sojourn into the village’s night life of bars catering to the Hispanic community was rather calm, but had its moments.

The police mission was to seize the liquor license at six bars, speak to the owners/managers, and post a notice on each front door stating that alcohol could no longer be served. The State Liquor Authority pulled the licenses of the bars on charges of allowing drug dealing inside and other violations of the New York State Alcohol Beverage Control Act.

And the owners were warned if any alcoholic beverages were sold or brought into the bar, they would be arrested.

Some of the supposed owners just nodded, while others were not happy. The unhappy ones gave the impression they felt invaded by the handful of Spring Valley police officers, two State Liquor Authority investigators, three state Parole Division officers, the Sheriff’s Department’s gang expert assigned to the Rockland Intelligence Center, and other officers.

The police officers kept shaking their heads and laughing each time they entered each bar.

And that was because instead of seeing the usual dozens, if not hundreds of people drinking and dancing with women, the places were nearly empty. No one was shooting pool or dancing or sitting with women under the disco-type lights, they said. And many of the bars were freshly cleaned and napkins were folded on tables in some of the establishments that supposedly offered food. And some patrons, in several cases, were drinking water or other non-alcoholic drinks.

The lack of bar patrons became the night’s running joke among the officers, as was too much of a family atmosphere in places where police say fights routinely occur and prostitutes dance with men. And at closing time hundreds of people push out of the bars, sometimes still holding their bottles of beer, police said.

“Thursday night is one of the busiest nights here,” Spring Valley Police Officer Jim Noble said. “You cannot even move in some of these bars. But this. I don’t even feel like I am in Spring Valley right now. It’s surreal.”

Noble, a village cop for 13 years, and the other Spring Valley officers put up with friendly jabs from the other officers, several of whom also have experienced Spring Valley’s bar scene at night.

The bar owners knew they would be paid a visit Thursday night. Apparently, police said, SLA officials met with several lawyers for the liquor license holders/bar owners to explain that licenses would be suspended under the agency’s emergency powers act. Each bar can fight the suspensions at hearings, but until then cannot sell alcohol or allow alcoholic beverages in their establishments.

At LaFrontera on South Central Avenue, the officers arrived at the same time close to midnight as a white van filled with scantily dressed women, apparently from the Bronx, police said. The women were being brought into the bar to dance with the male patrons, police told me.

Less than a handful of men were inside the bar, where the disco-type lights were turned off.

Several of the women left the van and saw several large police officers standing at the front door, including a parole officer wearing a Capt. American jersey (in honor of Marvel Comics’ Nazi-fighter during World War II). They looked surprised and without comment went back into the van. The driver drove to another area of the parking lot to try and avoid the police (which didn’t work).

The driver eventually drove off and so did the police several minutes later – shutting down, for the most part, another bar for the time being.

The New York State Liquor Authority’s news release provided the following charges against the six Spring Valley bars:

El Valle Resturant, 137 North Main Street

The SVPD conducted an undercover sting operation at El Valle Restaurant on March 22, and March 23, 2007 during which SVPD agents were able to make six (6) separate purchases of cocaine from employees and patrons of the premises. On August 18, 2007, State Liquor Authority Investigators and SVPD officers conducted an inspection of the premises. The SLA subsequently charged the bar with seven violations of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law (“ABC Law�), including hiring unlicensed security guards, disorderly conduct for permitting drug activity, and failure to provide adequate supervision.

Palermo II Inc, 39 South Main Street

Over the course of a several month long investigation conducted by the SVPD – beginning in April, 2007 – undercover agents were able to make two (2) purchases of cocaine and one (1) purchase of marijuana from employees and patrons of the Palermo II at 39 South Main Street. SVPD undercover agents also observed numerous narcotics transactions occurring openly in the premises during that time. On August 17, 2007, the State Liquor Authority Investigators and SVPD officers conducted an inspection of the premises. The SLA charged the bar with 11 violations of the ABC Law, including hiring unlicensed security guards, disorderly conduct for permitting drug activity, and failure to provide adequate supervision. In addition, Palermo II Inc was previously charged by the SLA for disorderly premises, sale to a minor, and unlicensed security staff in July, 2006 – these additional matters are currently pending before the Authority.

Orgullo Guatemarteco Inc, 50 North Main Street

From April 6, 2007 to May 18, 2007, undercover agents of the SVPD were able to make two (2) separate purchases of cocaine and observe numerous additional narcotics transactions openly occurring in and around the Orgullo Guatemarteco at 50 North Main Street. On August 18, 2007, the State Liquor Authority Investigators and SVPD officers conducted an inspection of the premises. The SLA charged the establishment with 12 violations of the ABC Law, including selling alcohol to a minor, hiring unlicensed security guards, disorderly conduct for permitting drug activity, and failure to provide adequate supervision. The licensee was charged with violations pertaining to a disorderly premises and failure to notify the SLA of a change in facts in October 2003 and paid $2,000 in March 2004. The licensee was charged with violations of availing and refusal to appear in August 2004 and paid a $5,000 in November 2004. The licensee was also charged with selling to a minor on May 12, 2006.

La Frontera Inc, 18 South Central Avenue

On May 30, June 6 and August 25, 2007, SVPD officers observed a known convicted felon working at the bar. An undercover SVPD agent inside the premises observed a patron selling cocaine in the bathroom as well as in the bar area as well as several patrons using cocaine on the premises. The SLA charged La Frontera, Inc. with 14 violations of the ABC Law, including employment of a felon, permitting lewd and indecent conduct, disorderly conduct for permitting drug activity, and failure to provide adequate supervision. In addition, the licensee was charged with a sale to minor and disorderly premises in April 2007 and a sale to minor in July 2007. These matters are currently pending before the Authority.

El Palacio, 10 South Main Street

On August 18, 2007, an undercover SVPD agent made two purchases of cocaine from a patron inside the licensed premises. On September 2, 2007, the SVPD observed several males exit the licensed premises and appeared to be intoxicated. The SVPD determined that two of the males were 16 and 17 years of age and both males indicated that they were drinking alcohol inside the premises. In addition, the licensee was charged with failure to display the licensed in March 2007 and paid a $1,000 fine due on October 5, 2007. The SLA charged the establishment with 18 violations of the ABC Law, including permitting lewd and indecent conduct, hiring unlicensed security guards, disorderly conduct for permitting drug activity, and failure to provide adequate supervision.

B & J Tavern Inc, 55 North Myrtle Avenue

Over the course of several months, beginning in February, 2007, undercover agents of the SVPD were able to make three (3) separate purchases of cocaine from patrons at the B & J Tavern at 55 north Myrtle Avenue. The sales took place openly both inside and immediately outside of the premises and in the parking lot. On August 16, 2007, the State Liquor Authority Investigators and SVPD officers conducted an inspection of the premises. The SLA charged B & J Tavern, Inc. with 12 violations of the ABC Law, including disorderly conduct for permitting drug activity, failure to provide adequate supervision and for becoming a focal point for police attention.