Noir Lounge in Providence Temporarily Closed After Incident

News Summary

Noir Lounge has been temporarily closed following a disturbance on July 25, which resulted in the injury of a Providence police officer. The Providence Board of Licenses has revoked all licenses for the venue pending a formal hearing. The initial hearing set for July 29 has been postponed to July 31 to assess the chaotic situation where 300 individuals attempted entry. The owner stated that adequate security measures were in place, but the incident raised concerns about public safety at nightlife venues in the city.

Providence – Noir Lounge, located on Union Street, has been temporarily closed following a disturbance incident that occurred on the night of July 25. The situation escalated into a confrontation with law enforcement, resulting in the injury of a Providence police officer. In response, the Providence Board of Licenses has taken immediate action, ordering the revocation of all licenses associated with the establishment until a formal hearing can be held.

The Providence Board of Licenses had originally scheduled a hearing for July 29 but has since postponed it to July 31 at 4 p.m. This postponement is to address the events that unfolded at the club, which has a maximum capacity of approximately 230 patrons. On the night of the incident, around 300 individuals attempted to gain entry, leading to a chaotic situation.

Police responded to calls about a fight at Noir Lounge around 10:30 p.m. on July 25. When officers arrived, they found a large, unruly crowd, and as they worked to control the situation, 24-year-old Louis Stevenson allegedly assaulted one of the officers. The confrontation required the use of physical force for the officer to subdue Stevenson, though a Taser was not deployed during the arrest. The officer sustained a minor arm injury and received treatment at a local hospital.

This disturbance marks the second incident involving injuries to Providence police officers over a two-day period. Such occurrences raise concerns about public safety and the overall environment at nightlife venues in the city.

The owner of Noir Lounge, Ayodeji Tade, indicated that he had made efforts to ensure the safety of patrons by providing sufficient security personnel. A total of 10 security guards were on duty at the time, and he had reached out to the police for assistance as the situation began to escalate. Despite these measures, the incident escalated to an assault on a police officer, prompting immediate action from local authorities.

The revocation of Noir Lounge’s licenses is a precautionary measure taken by the Providence Board of Licenses in light of the events that transpired. A thorough review of the situation will be conducted during the upcoming hearing, where officials will assess the safety protocols in place at the establishment and determine the necessary steps moving forward.

The closure of Noir Lounge and the immediate response by city officials reflect ongoing challenges faced by nightlife venues in managing large crowds and ensuring the safety of both patrons and law enforcement personnel. As the city prioritizes public safety, further developments regarding the hearing on July 31 are anticipated with keen interest from both the community and relevant stakeholders.

Moving forward, city officials will be looking closely at the findings from the hearing to address any potential changes in regulations or enforcement strategies for nightlife establishments to mitigate similar incidents in the future. This incident serves as a reminder of the need for collaboration between venue owners, security staff, and law enforcement to maintain a safe environment for all.

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Additional Resources

• GoLocalProv: Chaotic Fight at Downtown Providence Club
• ABC6: Noir Lounge Remains Closed
• WPRI: Man Arrested Following Large Disturbance
• Wikipedia: Providence, Rhode Island
• Google Search: Providence nightlife incidents