By TIFFANY RAZZANO
Rockville Centre police received numerous reports of a disturbance inside the club just before 2:30 a.m. Some observers said there were four separate altercations taking place inside, though police said only that there were "multiple incidents." Officers broke up a fight in Municipal Parking Field #7, directly behind Rapture, issuing one appearance ticket to a patron of the bar for disturbing the peace. Police said that Jeffrey Rumman of Westbury, the club's owner, would receive an appearance ticket for maintaining a disorderly premise.
Two men were found bleeding in front of 49 North Village Ave., and were taken to South Nassau Communities Hospital by ambulance, police said. Others on the scene said that an ambulance was sent to MPF #7.
Police also received a call at 2:51 a.m. reporting a confrontation between two men at Sunrise Highway and North Marion Place that resulted in what sounded like gunfire. Police found two shell casings at the scene. Nassau County detectives and the Rockville Centre Anti-Crime Unit are investigating the incident. They would not say whether the gunfire was connected to the incident at Rapture.
After the disturbance, Nassau County fire marshals inspected the club. Rumman was issued an appearance ticket for a fire code violation, but he said the inspection was a standard evaluation and that he was in compliance with the fire code. He would not comment further.
Rapture, which opened in July 2006, has been visited by police numerous times in the past year. Rumman and his employees have been issued appearance tickets for maintaining a disorderly premise, serving alcohol to minors, fire code violations and serving beverages contaminated due to stored open bottles. Many of the club's patrons have also been issued tickets for disturbing the peace and disorderly conduct when police have been called to the club to break up altercations.
In September, the village denied Rapture's request to offer adult entertainment. A federal judge sided with the village in February after Rapture took the village to court over the issue.
When the club's business license expired on Feb. 28, the village opted not to renew it, and Rumman appealed the decision. After a closed hearing in April involving Rumman, village officials and Peter Bee, a lawyer who served as an arbitrator, Bee's decision on the business license is still pending. The village also took the matter to the State Liquor Authority, requesting that Rapture's liquor license be denied. Because of a backlog at the SLA, the village has yet to hear from it regarding Rapture.
Owners of four local businesses, all on the same block as Rapture, banded together against the club, writing a letter to the village board in March. The letter complained about safety and quality-of-life issues, reporting that the block Rapture is on, as well as the parking lot behind it, are covered with litter and debris, and that the sidewalk, parking lot and buildings are stained with vomit and urine. The business owners complained that Rapture's patrons often park illegally, illegally use the dumpster at 234 Sunrise Highway and have engaged in sexual activity in the elevator and other areas of the building at 222 Sunrise Highway. The letter also stated that unidentified men have been seen peering into the dance studio classrooms above Rapture.
"We are concerned for the safety of our children and customers," read the letter, whose signers requested their names be withheld from print because, they say, they have had confrontations with Rumman and his associates. "There has been gunfire in parking lots and gang fights on a regular basis. Rapture is bringing an unsavory element into our community and destroying our established businesses in the visible center of the Rockville Centre community. We are afraid for our safety and repercussions from the owner of Rapture and his associates."
"We couldn't take it anymore," one of the business owners told the Herald. "It's the most disgusting, filthy place. [Rumman] says it has nothing to do with him. It's unbelievable what he's getting away with. ... We're scared to death of him. We call the police all the time. He opened up mid-July 2006 and in a year this has been just absolutely disastrous down here. It's quite a nightmare here."
The latest incident at the club, which is below street level, comes on the heels of legislation passed on July 9 by the village board regarding nightclubs. Bill 1A tightens the definitions of nightclubs, cabarets, restaurants and theaters, and prohibits nightclubs and cabarets from operating in basements. Businesses already operating below street level are excepted. The board also passed Bill 3, which prohibits adult entertainment in establishments in Business C and C2 Districts.
The board began working on the legislation last October, when Trustee Jeanne Farnan Mulry brought the issue to the board's attention. The Fire Council also sent a letter to the board about fire code violations. "The Fire Department was concerned about these basement entertainment places," said Chuck Joyce, the village's new deputy mayor, who was secretary of the Fire Council when it sent the letter. "[These establishments] blocked the exits, and flammable materials were found when they had inspections. They have different bands coming in and groups performing, so there was a safety issue as far as people getting out and firemen being able to get in to put a fire out."
Trustees indicated that the legislation is just the beginning, as they consider further efforts to tighten the laws regarding nightclubs and bars - especially anti-nuisance legislation. The board is studying similar laws enacted in New York City and upstate Rome, N.Y. "I am currently researching to determine whether similar legislation could be enacted in Rockville Centre," Mulry said. "I am hopeful that we will be able to immediately address these issues of public and personal safety and well-being in our downtown. This is a vital issue. The safety of all of our residents are affected. It will continue to be a priority for me as a trustee. I hope the new board can move forward with more legislation and actions to control this problem. The safety of our residents must be our first concern."
"The only thing I can say about further legislation is that we are looking into further ways to regulate the use," said Mayor Mary Bossart. "We are actively pursuing all of our legal recourses. ... We are happy to have all types of business, but they have to operate in a manner that is consistent in the community."
Comments about this story? TRazzano@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 221.
