Illegal Nightclub Shut Down, State Reports

Two men who were arrested earlier this month after police and agents with the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control raided and shut down an illegal nightclub in downtown Oakland have been identified.

Everett Herbert, 48, of Alameda, and Tuvai Sua, 37, of Pittsburg, were arrested on Nov. 6 on suspicion of selling alcohol without a license and possession of a controlled substance, according to ABC spokesman John Carr.

The day of the arrests, beverage control agents and police executed a search warrant at the illegal nightclub, known as Studio 361, which was operating out of a vacant basement at 361 12th St., ABC officials said. There, authorities seized 72 bottles of liquor, a significant amount of beer and wine and approximately $400 in cash from the behind the bar.

Agents also found numerous small bags containing suspected narcotics, which were believed to have been abandoned by patrons as agents and officers entered the business during the search, according to the department.

The investigation first began when both Oakland police and ABC received complaints of illegal alcohol sales, loud music and illegal drug use happening at the club until the early morning hours, department officials said.

Undercover agents had previously entered the club and confirmed illegal activity was happening there.

The club offered patrons a full cash bar, a DJ, a dance floor and several smoking rooms, according to the department.

The club mostly advertised through social media and largely catered to patrons of licensed bars in the city’s downtown area after 2 a.m., when those businesses had already stopped serving alcohol, as required by law, department officials said.

--Bay City News; Image via Shutterstock