I spoke today, briefly, with people identifying themselves as managers of Club Uzo, the latest business Baltimore police are seeking to padlock due to repeated incidents of violence. Like others before them, Uzo's management said they felt they could not be held responsible for how their patrons behave, particularly when those patrons leave the business and are violent outside. One man, who would not give his name, said police were outside of the club at the time of this month's triple shooting (That claim could not immediately be verified with the Northeast District police commander, Maj. Delmar Dickson).
"If something happens here, guess who is supposed to be the protector of the law?" said the man who answered the phone and identified himself as a manager. "But none of them do anything. They stood there while it was happening, and I see no reason why we have to be blamed for that."
He also said the police attention was disproportionate to the problem, claiming that people die in Fells Point every year related to the bar scene and those clubs are not shut down. (Coincidentally, the liquor board recently suspended the license of Chubbie's, an infamous Fells Point bar that features adult entertainment). Police have been accused of targeting black-owned establishments, but they say they only target those unwilling to work with them to correct the problem.
Though he was frustrated, the unidentified man also said the club was willing to make changes. He said they have security cameras inside already, and they have decided to stop having "18 and over" nights. In fact they've done one better, and will only allow people 25 and over, he said.
Records show Uzo is managed by a man named Emmanuel Ayeti, who court records indicate has been embroiled in a dispute with the owner of the property, Two Brothers Investments LLC and Vincent Arosemena. Two Brothers, which state records show is defunct, paid $336,000 for the building in 2007 (though its assessed at $185,000). The LLC filed a breach of lease claim against Ayeti in 2007, and records indicate Arosemena won that case. Ayeti then filed a contract suit against Arosemena in November 2008, which was dismissed by the court in Feb. 2009.
The Sun's archives show Arosemena ran a Charles Village club called Rootie Kazootie's, which had its liquor license suspended in 2002 and has since closed. A phone number listed for Arosemena was disconnected, and a lawyer who has represented him in the past said he was not involved in the current padlock proceedings.