Bogie owner walks out of hearing
Story Created:
Jan 7, 2010 at 1:21 PM EDT
Story Updated:
Jan 7, 2010 at 3:12 PM EDT
UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) - The owner of a Utica nightclub with a violent history walked out of a hearing at city hall this morning regarding the fate of his bar.
The city's Corporation Counsel Office is conducting the hearing. The decision-making panel consists of the fire and police chiefs as well as the codes commissioner. What they must decide: what to do about the Bogie Nightclub on North Genesee Street- - a place with which Utica Police have become quite familiar in recent years.
Police Chief Dan LaBella pointed out that police have been called to the Bogie 386 times in three years...even though the bar is only open eight hours a week. Officers at the hearing testified about what they've encountered at the bar, including patrons, injured by cut glass, security guards carrying concealed weapons who weren't licensed to do so and convicted felons watching the door. Officers also said they'd been called to the Bogie for shots fired in the parking lot.
Bogie owner, Tony Festa, asked UPD officers if the Bogie was the only place in the city with drug activity, or the only violent place in the city. Police Sergeant Edward Noonan replied that city police respond to more problems there than all other similar establishments combined.
"Your establishment takes away resources that should be provided through the rest of the city," said Noonan, who added, "Basically if you enter that building, you're putting yourself at risk."
City Attorney Linda Sullivan Fatata says something must be done before Utica Police get the call that nobody wants.
"My fear is that a place that's operating like the Bogie is going to result in someone getting killed eventually. It's putting police officers at risk every time they get called there, it's putting patrons at risk who go there innocently who think they're just going to go have a good time at a dance club."
Police Chief Dan LaBella says the panel expects to have a decision in five days. Shutting down the bar for a period of time is an option, as is working with owner Tony Festa to fix the problems. Festa walked out of the hearing before the end, saying, "I'm done." If he doesn't approve of the panel's decision, he can seek other options through State Supreme Court.
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