Official seeks second vote on After Dark license
By sue m. morgan
Staff Writer

OLD BRIDGE — Spurred by a weekend brawl at the After Dark go-go bar involving a professional football player, Township Council Vice President Larry Redmond will ask his colleagues to reconsider their recent 5-2 decision to renew the club’s liquor license.

Redmond told Greater Media Newspapers on Tuesday that he will file a request with Township Clerk Rose-Marie Saracino to place an action item on the agenda for Monday night’s council meeting. That item will ask the council to discuss and, if legally permissible, to take another vote on the renewal.

Charlie Rogers, 26, a wide receiver with the NFL’s Buffalo Bills team and a resident of the Cliffwood section of Aberdeen Township, was arrested and charged with multiple offenses at 3:12 a.m. Saturday after he allegedly assaulted Patrolman Robert Kurzydlowski in the parking lot of the club, located at Route 35 and Greenwood Avenue in Laurence Harbor. Rogers, who, according to police appeared to be intoxicated, is accused of refusing to comply with police orders to leave the premises.

The 5-foot-9-inch, 177-pound Rogers was later charged with aggravated assault, terroristic threats, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct.

Rogers’ female companion, Tayeshia Guarriello, 31, of Edgewater, reportedly twice grabbed Patrolman Steve Connolly as he and Kurzydlowski tried to arrest Rogers. Guarriello was arrested and charged with hindering apprehension.

Rogers was released from jail Saturday on $150,000 bail, according to Lt. Jack Sweeney. Guarrielo was released after posting $100 bail.

Redmond said that Saturday morning’s brawl was the second violent incident at the nightclub in less than a month and expressed disgust with the night club, as well as with two other go-go bars that operate within the township.

"These bars are nothing but trouble," Redmond said.

Despite an ordinance prohibiting go-go bars from doing business in the township, the three clubs continue operating because they existed before the ordinance was enacted, Redmond said.

"They only exist because they’re grandfathered in," Redmond explained.

During a June 24 hearing, Redmond had urged his colleagues to deny the liquor license renewal sought by TMJ Corp., the parent company of After Dark. Redmond had objected to the renewal after the council received police reports of a double stabbing that took place in the nightclub’s parking lot at approximately 2:30 a.m. on June 22. Three suspects, both members of the Bandanas motorcycle gang, have since been charged with the attempted murder of two club patrons.

That incident prompted the council to delay the renewal of After Dark’s license until the club’s management was notified that its license might be denied.

On July 8, the council voted 5-2 to renew the TMJ’s liquor license after the company’s attorney, Wayne J. Peck of Freehold, presented his client’s plan to beef up security at the nightclub. Peck testified that TMJ would hire an additional security officer to patrol its parking lot between 9 p.m. and closing on Fridays and Saturdays, the club’s peak business hours.

Redmond, who said that he could not attend that meeting for medical reasons, said he is disappointed by the fact that the council took action on the application in his absence and granted the renewal.

"No one wants to stand up to them (the bar owners)," he said.

However, while noting Redmond’s concern, council President Reggie Butler defended the council’s action. Because Peck presented the bar’s plan to increase security and cooperate with the conditions of renewal, it was appropriate to take action, Butler said.

"We went ahead and voted on it because of the attorney’s recommendations," Butler said on Tuesday.

Commenting on his client’s behalf on Tuesday, Peck stated that three security guards, one more than was required, were working at the club at the time of the incident Saturday. One of those officers was patrolling the lot when the incident involving Rogers began, Peck said.

Butler questioned whether the promised security is adequate.

"I agree with Larry. It’s worth taking a look at," Butler said.

Councilman Edward Testino, a Democrat, and Ward 6 Councilwoman Lucille Panos, a Republican, cast the dissenting votes against the license renewal. During that meeting, both expressed reservations about renewing the license without getting police input about other violent incidents at the club.

Testino, reached for comment Tuesday, was disturbed to learn of the weekend incident, but doubted that the renewal could be rescinded.

"We may be out of luck," Testino said. "We might have to wait until next year."

As an alternative, Testino suggested that the council consult with the club’s management to try to prevent further violent incidents.

"Maybe we could convince the club owner to increase the security or close earlier," Testino said.

Regarding Kurzydlowski’s injuries and reports that officers in both the nightclub’s parking lot and at police headquarters struggled to restrain an allegedly uncooperative Rogers, Testino questioned whether the department is adequately staffed to control such a situation.

"We can’t have patrolmen responding and getting in harm’s way," Testino said.

As a councilman, Testino has pushed for the hiring of more police officers to supplement a reportedly understaffed department. However, township administrators, particularly Mayor Barbara Cannon and Business Administrator Alayne Shepler, have stated that a tight budget does not provide adequate funding for police hiring and ongoing salaries.

Still, Testino said he would like to see if the reported lack of police personnel is compromising the officers’ safety.

"I would like to know if that’s an issue," Testino said.

Redmond, however, says the go-go bars and their clientele are the root of the problem. Motorcycle gangs that often patronize such clubs are the worst offenders, he said.

"Motorcycle gangs are taking over the go-go bars," he pointed out.

Police have arrested and charged four suspects in connection with the double stabbing which took place at 2:31 a.m. on June 22 in After Dark’s parking lot. Two members of the Bandanas motorcycle club, John J. O’Connell, 40, of Laurence Harbor and Frank DiChristino, 26, of Mahwah, Bergen County, were both arrested and charged with attempted murder, riot, and weapons offenses. A third suspect, Marc Gallucci, described as a member of the rival Pagans motorcycle club, has been charged and remains at large according to Sweeney.

Additional police reports have indicated that approximately eight or nine other members of the two gangs were involved in that altercation.

Two Long Branch men were allegedly stabbed by O’Connell and DiChristino while Gallucci reportedly brandished a shotgun at an Eatontown man who witnessed the assault.

Regarding questions about the club’s increased security, Peck pointed out that at approximately 11:30 a.m. on Friday, township police detectives had visited the bar unannounced to see if management had added an extra security guard as promised.

At approximately 1 a.m. Saturday, the detectives told club management they were satisfied with the security detail and left the club, Peck said. During the 90 minutes that the detectives were conducting their investigation, patrons were not allowed into the bar, he added.

Redmond expressed regret over Kurzydlowski’s injuries sustained from his encounter with Rogers.

In addition, Redmond noted that he would really like to see all three of the existing go-go bars closed. The bars and their clientele give the township "a bad name," he said.

"Let this element go somewhere else to have their fun," he said.

During the June 24 meeting, the council voted 3-2-1 to renew the liquor license for another go-go bar, Club 516, on the condition that it place a security guard in its parking lot.