VB club could lose liquor license

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) - The Virginia Beach Police Department is asking a judge to suspend a club’s alcohol license pending an investigation by the Alcoholic Beverage Control.

According to an affidavit filed by Chief James A. Cervera with the Virginia Beach Police Department, officers have responded to 111 events at Club Royale Blue located at 800 Baker Road since May of 2011. Cevera claims the club’s owner and operators have allowed the club to become a continuing threat to public safety.

"The police chief has said he cannot sleep at night because of the level of criminal violations taking place at this [club] and [feels] it is his duty to come forward and to let a judge decide if it should keep its license or not," City Deputy Attorney Chris Boynton said.

Cervera has provided the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control with several items for further investigation.

“There have been a total of 54 Establishment Review Task Force inspection reports completed and submitted to ABC from May 1, 2011 through Aug. 25, 2012,” the affidavit said.

Document: Affidavit filed by VBPD

Cervera went on to say the investigation could take weeks or months to be completed, therefore, he is asking for the club’s ABC license to be suspended in the meantime.

Barry Davis, the club's owner, is represented by Attorney Kevin Martingayle

"The City must not only show that this has happened in the establishment, it has to show the establishment allowed it to happen and I don't know how they are going to do that," Martingayle said.

According to Boynton, the City thinks it can prove the club allowed those crimes to happen by testifying about nine club patrons getting robbed in the bathroom.

"A pair of criminals come in to the establishment and one has a gun while club security is elsewhere," Boynton said.

Some of the 111 events the police have investigated are as follows:

• One homicide
• 24 assaults or domestic incidents
• One stabbing
• Four robberies
• Nine fights
• Seven firearms violations
• Eight narcotics violations

A breakdown of several events can be found by clicking here . In August, police responded to a report of a man in cardiac arrest on the dance floor and an investigation revealed the man was struck in the head with a large glass bottle.

He was pronounced dead shortly after.

Cervera said VBPD has provided the club with the Establishment Review Task Force inspection reports via email. From May 1, 2011 to Aug. 25, 2012, 17 emails were sent to the club’s email address containing 36 reports.

Additionally, Cervera said officers have met with club management about the public safety at the club.

A hearing on the matter is expected to take place over the course of two days, Monday and Wednesday. Stay with WAVY.com for the latest on this developing story.