Officer hurt in assault at Kabaret restaurant
Spotswood cops call for help as crowd converges on officers

SPOTSWOOD - Two police officers found themselves swarmed by patrons at the Kabaret on Saturday night after responding to a fight in progress in the restaurant, police said.

One of the officers, Patrolman Les Genovese, was injured as he tried to arrest a belligerent patron during the apparent fracas.

Genovese and Sgt. Louis Sarti responded to the restaurant in the shopping mall at Summerhill Road and Main Street at 11:33 p.m. when it was reported that a fight was in progress inside the restaurant, which has music and dancing on weekend nights. The officers arrived to find Michael Kritsak, 39, of Bridgewater, intoxicated and disorderly with other patrons, according to a police report.

Police repeatedly ordered Kritsak to leave the area, but he allegedly became more abusive and disorderly with the officers. When he was told he was under arrest, Kritsak reportedly swung at Genovese, and a struggle ensued. The officers wrestled Kritsak to the ground, but he continued to fight with Genovese.

At that time, police said, Kritsak's wife jumped on Genovese and began to strike him several times, according to police. Meanwhile, some of the other patrons attacked Sarti.

The scene developed into "an angry crowd" that was converging on the officers, who then called for help from the East Brunswick, Monroe and Jamesburg police departments, according to the police report.

As the other officers arrived, the scene was secured and the crowd began to scatter. Genovese escorted Kritsak to a patrol vehicle, but the suspect continued to fight, and allegedly kicked Genovese in the ribs and left leg.

Genovese was later transported to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick, where he was treated and released. The injuries did not prevent Genovese from returning to work.

Kritsak was charged with aggravated assault on a police officer, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. He was lodged at the Middlesex County Adult Correction Center, North Brunswick, in lieu of $20,000 bail with no 10 percent option.

Police said further arrests may still be made.

"The incident happened, the arrest was made and we're going forward with the investigation," said Spotswood Police Sgt. Chris Bierman. He said the number of people involved precluded the police from making any additional arrests at that time.

"Due to the melee, their main concern was keeping the crowd in order," Bierman said.

Kabaret, which does not have a liquor license but allows patrons to bring in alcoholic beverages, has repeatedly been in the news since it opened in 2005.

Neighbors who live behind it have complained to the police and at borough meetings that Kabaret plays music too loud on weekend nights.

Last year, Spotswood Municipal Court Judge Edward Herman fined Kabaret $2,000 for a noise violation, but the decision was overturned in state Superior Court, New Brunswick, which said Spotswood did not have probable cause to make the ruling. Borough Council President Curtis Stollen said there had been a minor oversight, and the judge did say there was enough evidence to find Kabaret guilty of the noise violation.

Polonia Street resident Sara Beth Grossman told the Sentinel last month that the noise was "getting bad again" after a period in which the club was more quiet.

Grossman said it has gotten to the point where her children cannot go to sleep until late even on weeknights because they're used to not being able to fall asleep until the early morning hours on Friday and Saturday. She said she intends to move this summer.

Residents feel their many calls to the police and the borough have been largely fruitless.

"I haven't pressed any more charges because there's no point," Grossman said. "It's useless. I could keep going until I'm blue in the face."