Social club brawl ends in 8 arrests, 2 officers injured (Lexington Clipper-Herald)

Social club brawl ends in 8 arrests, 2 officers injured
by Juan Perez Jr.
World-Herald News Service
Published: Monday, September 20, 2010 9:41 AM CDT

OMAHA - A birthday party for a 15-year-old girl took a violent turn in Bellevue on Saturday night when an alcohol-fueled brawl erupted inside a social hall and spilled into the parking lot.

In the end, eight people were arrested, two people were hospitalized and two Bellevue police officers were injured by kicks and punches. Law enforcement officers from three agencies were needed to quell the brawl.

The birthday party, which authorities said drew more than 150 people, was held at Club Jamay at 6902 Railroad Ave. A girl's 15th birthday party, typically referred to as a "quinceañera," is revered as an important event in many Latin American cultures because it symbolizes a girl's transition into womanhood.

But the mood inside darkened about 10 p.m., authorities said, when the hall's managers shut down the music and tried to break up the party.

Management spotted a man who had passed out, said Lt. Tom Dargy of the Bellevue Police Department, prompting them to have the club's private security team remove him.

At that point, police said, several people attacked the security staff, who responded with pepper spray. Bellevue officers arrived after a security officer called police to report that he was being assaulted.

Authorities said the officers encountered a chaotic scene: people fighting outside, others running from the building and more fights inside the densely crowded social hall.

Backup was called, Dargy said, and the officers pushed their way into the venue so rescue personnel could treat a man with an injured leg and take him to the hospital. More altercations erupted.

Police were trying to pull one fighting man from the fray when someone threw a beer bottle at an officer. As police tried to arrest the bottle thrower, another person kicked a police officer in the jaw. Police used a stun gun on yet another attendee after he punched a police officer in the side of the head. More bottles were thrown.

The officers then issued an extremely urgent "help-an-officer" call, which drew all on-duty Bellevue officers as well as Sarpy County sheriff's deputies and Omaha police officers.

Dargy said the brawl left the social hall trashed. Tables were knocked over, food was spilled on the floor and the venue smelled of alcohol.

"Just disarray," he said. "A mess."

Dargy said much of the crowd, however, cooperated as the officers tried to restore order.

Five men, two women and one 17-year-old youth eventually were arrested on various charges. The names of those arrested and their charges:

Cecilio Alejo, 28, suspicion of assault on an officer, obstructing a peace officer and resisting arrest.

Erasmo Rubio-Constancio, 35, suspicion of attempted assault on an officer and obstructing a peace officer.

Demetria Carino, 35, suspicion of obstructing a peace officer.

Cecilio Angel-Jiminez, 22, suspicion of obstructing a peace officer and resisting arrest.

Juan M. Carino-Isidoro, 20, suspicion of obstructing a peace officer and being a minor in possession of alcohol.

Claudia Sierra, 19, suspicion of obstructing a peace officer.

Angel J. Venustiano, 38, suspicion of third-degree assault.

The 17-year-old was arrested on suspicion of assault on an officer and obstructing a peace officer. After he inhaled pepper spray, he was hospitalized briefly, then released.

Property records indicate that the club is owned by Oscar and Vanessa Partida of Bellevue. They purchased the former antiques hall in 2008 for $272,000 and converted it into a social club, according to property records and authorities.

Dargy said several members of the club's private security team once worked at Bellevue's troubled Rumors Restaurant and Lounge, which was shut down this year after numerous fights, a stabbing and a shooting.

Club Jamay hasn't had a reputation like Rumors among law enforcement, Dargy said. Neighbors have complained about loud parties or trash in the area, he said, but this was the first large violent incident there.

A relative of the owners said Sunday night that the couple would have no comment on the incident.

Local and federal authorities were investigating the immigration status of the suspects. Five suspects have already been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, although police didn't say which ones. Authorities were still investigating the status of the three other suspects.

Bellevue police did not identify the two injured officers but said the injuries were minor.