Boro imposes restrictions at two bars
Police: Call volume 'excessively high at both locations'
BY MICHAEL ACKER Staff Writer
The liquor licenses of two South River establishments have been renewed, but with new conditions aimed at quelling problems reported inside and outside the bars.

Police Chief Wesley Bomba told the governing body in a letter dated June 10 that the El Tenampa Bar, Jackson Street, and Acapulco Tropicana Bar, Prospect Street, have had numerous calls related to people urinating in public and loitering, along with loud music and intoxicated patrons. He said there have also been Rescue Squad calls and physical altercations.

Over the last licensing year, El Tenampa Bar had 48 calls for service, and incidents have resulted in the assault of responding police officers, including a July 5, 2007, event in which an officer sustained injuries as a result of an assault at the bar, Bomba wrote. The police officer who was assaulted in that incident is still reportedly unable to return to duty due to his injuries.

Police had 22 calls for service in the past six months for Acapulco Tropicana bar and nightclub, according to Bomba.

Police Sgt. John McKenna told Greater Media Newspapers that the state Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) has approved of the borough's renewal of the liquor licenses with new conditions for the bars.

Both establishments must close their premises by 1 a.m., rather than the standard time of 2 a.m. In addition, the bars must stop playing music at midnight, and an unarmed, uniformed security officer must be on site from Thursdays through Sundays starting at 9 p.m., until all patrons have left the premises. The security officer must be trained by, and hold a current registration card issued by, the New Jersey State Police, McKenna said.

The restrictions, which took effect on July 1 and run through June 30, 2009, come after law enforcement noticed a high call volume for the two locations. When the liquor licenses for the bars came up for review, the police chief, mayor and council determined that conditions should be placed on the licenses.

"The call volume was excessively high at both locations," McKenna said. "Additionally, the call volume in the neighborhood was also very high."

Police conducted a bar check recently at the Acapulco Tropicana at 12:12 a.m. July 3, and reported that the business was in violation of the new conditions placed on its liquor license.

Three police officers pulled up to the business to ensure that it was in compliance with the conditions. Police reportedly heard loud music from outside the building, which they indicated was a violation because it was after midnight. Police entered the bar and instructed the DJ to stop playing music.

Last month at the Acapulco Tropicana, police arrested Alejandro Salazar Chanez, 24, of Parlin, on a charge of disorderly conduct. Police were dispatched there for a suspicious incident, and Chanez allegedly became irate and shouted profanities at police and patrons exiting the establishment at 12:46 a.m. June 23.

After issuing Chanez several verbal warnings, Sgt. Joe Grekoski and Patrolman Jonathan Minacapelli arrested him and transported him to police headquarters. He was later released on recognizance.

At the El Tenampa Bar at 2:47 p.m. June 17, police charged Jorge A. Euceda, 28, of South River, with terroristic threats. Eucedawas allegedly threatening an employee of the Jackson Street bar, according to a police report. Police at the scene found that Euceda had an active warrant from federal Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE), an investigative branch of the Department of Homeland Security. He has since been returned him to his country of origin.

McKenna said the ABC and the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office assisted borough police on bar checks performed in the spring. In addition, borough police requested support from ICE, since officers sometimes encounter non-English speaking people without credentials, he said.

Police and government officials uncovered several violations at the bars, and arrested underage drinkers during inspections, according to McKenna. Also, ICE removed alleged members of the MS- 13 street gang from the Acapulco Tropicana Bar during one of the checks conducted earlier this year, McKenna said.

Deputy Police Chief John Bouthillette addressed the matter during a June 23 Borough Council meeting. The governing body renewed the liquor licenses of the establishments at that meeting, during which Bouthillette said problems at the bars have required a significant amount of manpower from local police.

Bouthillette listed problems at the bars such as noise and destruction of property. He said that stipulations such as earlier closing times and the presence of a security officer at the front door should help the businesses operate in accordance with the law. McKenna said the ABC recommended new conditions for the bars in an effort to quell the high-call volume and curtail criminal activity at the locations. The conditions will be reviewed every year to see whether they are still necessary, or if more needs to be done.

"If things work out and calm down by then, they can be lifted," he said.

McKenna said the purpose of the restrictions is to assist the bars with problems they are encountering in the operation of the establishments. He said they also lower the bars' liability.

"It's not to punish them, it's for the benefit of the community as a whole," he said.