Albuquerque Police Party Patrol shut down an illegal rave at 610 Central SW.
At 10:30 pm last night the Safe City Strike Force, the Albuquerque Fire Marshal’s Office and the Albuquerque Police Party Patrol shut down an illegal rave at 610 Central SW. This vacant commercial building use to be Banana Joes and is located near the former Club 7. Earlier in the evening, the Fire Marshalls Office had received a tip from a concerned parent who found a flyer in his teenage daughter’s belongings and was concerned for the safety of other children. When they went into the rave, the Public Safety officers found a line of about 30 people waiting to get in through a door in a rear alley. Inside there were more than 700 people, most of who appeared to be teenagers. They had paid $35 to get inside and several of the girls were wearing lingerie and bikinis. There were so many people inside there was a cloud of humidity hovering over the crowd. The music was immediately shut off and due to extreme overcrowding, everyone was forced out of the building. The initial plan was to have everyone sit on the floor to allow the public safety office to conduct its investigation. However, there was not enough room for people to sit, so the Fire Marshals Office ordered everyone out immediately so no one would get injured. One 17-year-old girl who was extremely intoxicated was taken to her parents.
The investigation found:
1. That the party organizer didn’t have a fire permit for the party or a business license.
2. The building didn’t go through the proper inspections prior to the party.
3. There was only one legal exit for the building and several were required.
4. A large stage had been constructed without a permit.
5. Electrical wires were exposed throughout the building.
6. The building was over capacity.
7. There were pipes and electrical boxes sticking out of the floor that were causing people to trip.
8. People were smoking inside the party.
The organizer of the party and his company were issued a notice of violation and was released from the scene. The Fire Marshals Office and the Strike Force will continue its investigation on Monday and it expects to issue several criminal charges against the organizer of the party. All of the charges will be misdemeanors each punishable by 90 days in jail and/or a $500 fine.
I will be available to answer any questions on this case and to provide photos taken by the strike force at 3:30 p.m. today at Mayor’s Office inside City Hall.
tj
