Banquet hall closes doors and prepares for hearing The Cameo faces code and alcoholic beverage violations, eviction BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer KATHY CHANG Cameo Restaurant & Banquet Facilities, Rahway Ave., has closed. WOODBRIDGE - The owners of the Cameo Banquet Hall on Rahway Avenue in Woodbridge voluntarily closed the facility's doors last week due to two incidents in the past week that led to three arrests. "We met the owners [Harry and Jarrod Dominick] twice this past week," said Woobridge Township Clerk John Mitch, who met with the Dominick brothers, along with Detective James Souza of the Woodbridge Police Department. "On Wednesday [Dec. 13], they voluntarily agreed to close their doors pending the hearing before the Township Council on Tuesday [Dec 19], [which] serves as the Alcoholic Beverage Control [ABC] Governing Board." Township officials noted that a review of municipal records shows that Smith Toth Inc., which is operated by Harry and Jarrod Dominick under the name the Cameo, is licensed as a banquet facility only, for events such as weddings and receptions, and is not permitted to operate as a nightclub or other entertainment facility. The Dominick brothers have operated the business for a year and a half. "During our investigation, we developed information from fliers that the owners were renting the Cameo out for programs other than a banquet facility-type event," said Mitch. "For example, the Cameo was hosting programs such as 'Sexy Wednesdays,' a Comedy Club Night on Thursdays, a 'Passion Jazz Café' in September, and a 'Hype Hair Magazine Natural Beauty Contest.' Smith Toth Inc. was also selling advance tickets and tickets at the door, which is uncharacteristic of a banquet facility and without the approval from the township." Smith Toth Inc. [Cameo] has been charged with multiple violations of state and township ordinances, municipal codes, and ABC regulations. The violations include immoral conduct and public disturbance; maintaining a nuisance operation; failure to adequately provide security personnel; sale of alcoholic beverages to unauthorized underage persons; serving intoxicated persons; and multiple violations of municipal housing, building, zoning and planning ordinances. Additionally, the fire department officials previously issued fire code violations. "Nightclubs, bars and entertainment facilities are subject to very stringent regulations," said Mayor John E. McCormac. "Illegal and overcrowded conditions present a real danger to the public health and safety and stands as a significant quality-of-life issue. I have instructed the Woodbridge Police Department and township inspectors to identify any potential illegal entertainment operation and to respond to every complaint." The investigation stemmed from incidents that occurred on Dec. 3 and 10. Police observed a dance-club-type atmosphere with loud hip-hop music playing during both incidents. Police were dispatched to the Cameo at 1:12 a.m. on Dec. 3 on a call of loud noise, and when police arrived, they could hear very loud music coming from inside the Cameo that sounded loud enough to be heard as though it was playing outside, the police report said. Police also noticed that the front entrance was completely blocked by a large crowd of people in an unorganized fashion. They appeared to be rushing the door and physically pushing to get in, the police report said. Police requested additional police officers and notified the fire department. Police noticed that the entire rear and side lots were full, and cars were also parked throughout the side streets. An influx of patrons continued to join the extremely large crowd, which was loud and unruly, at the front entrance, police said. Police told the large crowd of people at the front of the entrance to leave. At the same time, a bus with a load of people on it arrived, and police also turned them away, the police report said. Two security officers who were working at the event informed police that two large men were drunk and would not leave, and the security officers asked for assistance to escort the two men out safely because they were also starting fights, the police report said. The police on the scene entered the Cameo and observed two New Brunswick men arguing with the security officers and pushing and shoving, the police report said. Several police officers tried to calm the two men down and asked them four times to leave, but they refused all orders to leave the club, police said. Eventually, police were able to guide both men to the rear door, but they would not walk down the stairs to the parking lot, the police report said. Both men were cursing loud and were pushing the police officers around them. They were grabbing and positioning their bodies in an aggressive manner and began to wrestle with the police officers, the police report said. According to the police report, four officers had to hold and handcuff both men. They were arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, the police report said. One of the men, who is not of legal age to drink alcohol, admitted to drinking alcohol, the police report said. In a separate incident on the same night, police arrested and charged Phillip West, 21, of South Orange, at 1:30 a.m. for disorderly conduct, police said. Five males, including West, attempted to get back into the Cameo after they were told to leave. Four of them complied, but West did not and stated that he was going back in, police said. When police attempted to escort West off the property, he began to yell that the incident was racist and that the police were racist like police in New York City, and that they were only removing him because he was black, the police report said. Police advised West that they were removing him because of the huge crowd problem and the assault on officers at the Cameo earlier that night. West continued to yell and scream obscenities at the police officers and he was placed under arrest, the police report said. West was processed at police headquarters and released on his own recognizance pending a court date, police said. The second incident occurred at 1:13 a.m. on Dec. 10. Police were dispatched to the Cameo on a report of aggravated assault, the police report said. Two men were injured - one stabbed and one stomped on - during a large fight, police said. When police arrived, they observed approximately 50 people in front of the Cameo screaming and running around, the police report said. The members of the crowd were uncooperative and refused to supply investigating officers with any information regarding the fight or suspects who inflicted the injuries on the two victims, the police report said. One victim was stabbed once below the chest on his right side, police said. The 21-year-old victim from Elizabeth told police he had no idea who stabbed him and said he had no problems with anyone at the party. No one came forward with information regarding a suspect, the police report said. The second victim told police he was stomped on by unknown suspects. The 24-year-old victim from East Orange refused to give police officers any names or information about his attackers and said he didn't know what happened, the police report said. The second victim lost consciousness as a result of his attack and was transported to UMDNJ Hospital in Newark, the police report said. Harry and Jarrod Dominick will appear at a hearing before the ABC board after the Township Council meeting on Dec. 19. "It is the intention of the council to respond immediately to any situation involving ABC licensure and to conduct fair and impartial hearings regarding the facts surrounding any alleged violations," said Township Council President Patricia Osborne. Ward 1 Councilman Charles Kenny agreed. "The Township Council takes any alleged ABC violations that place the safety of police, patrons or residents in danger very seriously," he said. Township officials also indicated that prior legal action initiated by Laucyn Enterprises Inc. of Woodbridge, the owners of the Rahway Avenue property, resulted in an eviction order issued by a Middlesex County Superior Court judge. The eviction order on Smith Toth Inc. is effective Jan. 31, 2007. "We knew that they were already going to be evicted by Jan. 31," said Mitch. "The Cameo was scheduled to host 13 events from the day they voluntarily decided to close their doors [Dec. 13] to their eviction date. We are not going to wait around and let these violations continue for six more weeks."