Violetville Fire Hall Events Had Record of Disturbances

Baltimore County police responded to disturbances and other complaints at the seven times in a one-year period since February 2011-far more than other banquet and meeting hall rental facilities in this area, according to records provided by police at the request of Arbutus Patch.

After a in which two people were assaulted and sent to the Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore and one person was arrested after a private party at the VVFD, Arbutus Patch asked the county police for records of every call about disturbances or fights at the fire hall, located at 4000 Benson Ave., for the past year.

For comparison purposes, the police were asked for the same data for two other popular banquet and meeting hall rental facilities in the area- at 5200 Southwestern Blvd. and at 1349 Stevens Ave.

According to official records, police were dispatched to VVFD seven times for fights or disturbances since February of 2011:

• Sunday, July 3, 2011 - fight
• Saturday, July 9, 2011 - request for assistance with a disturbance
• Tuesday, July 19, 2011 - trespassing
• Friday, Nov. 18, 2011 - disturbance
• Monday, Dec. 12, 2012 - assault and battery
• Monday, Jan. 16, 2012 - disturbance
• Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012 - first-degree assault

During the same time period, police responded to Arbutus Volunteer Fire Department on two occasions:

• Sunday, July 24, 2011 - disturbance
• Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2011 - request for assistance with a disturbance

There were no police responses to Arbutus Town Hall during this time period.

Sources tell Arbutus Patch that the most serious problems arise from co-called "traveling clubs," in which promoters rent halls and sell tickets for parties at which beer or liquor is sold-all under the guise of a birthday party or some other similar pretense.

At private events held at the Odenton Volunteer Fire Department banquet hall, a man was stabbed to death in March 2005 and three people were injured when a guest opened fire with a shotgun in September of the same year.

According to The Baltimore Sun, what was supposed to be an anniversary party in Odenton in September 2005 was actually a private event with a $10 admission and a cash bar.

"We've heard about these promoters," said Michael Mohler, chief administrator of the Baltimore County Liquor Commission.

A one-day liquor license is required if admission is charged for an event at which alcoholic beverages are consumed or sold, Mohler said.

One day-liquor licenses are only permitted for bonafide nonprofits, such as for fundraising events at which wine is served, he said.

Some venues, such as the fire departments and Arbutus Town Hall, are issued "club" licenses that allow members to rent the facility for events and serve alcoholic beverages under the umbrella of the organization's liquor license, Mohler explained.

In every case, the holder of the liquor license is held responsible for conduct at these events.

Mohler said that the liquor commission receives police reports any time there is a response at any establishment with a liquor license.

"We work very closely with the police," he said.

If repeated problems are seen with a license holder, officials may take a variety of steps-up to holding a "show-cause" hearing to make license-holders explain why they should be allowed to continue operating.

"We may talk with them or take other measures, such as issue a show-cause order," Mohler said. "If there are incidents happening with a nonprofit, what the county grants the county can un-grant."

Ben Munoz, rental manager of Arbutus Town Hall, said that the organization uses a variety of strategies to avoid incidents with events at the hall, including requiring renters to have $1 million in liability insurance and not allowing events to run past midnight.

"Some renters want to bring their own booze and that's a red flag," he said. "If they're selling [admission] tickets, that's a red flag."

Ultimately, Munoz said that it comes down to meeting the renter and judging whether the person is legitimate and responsible.

"A lot of it is just my gut feeling," he said. "If my gut feeling is that I don't trust the group, we won't rent to them."

At least one member of the Arbutus Community Association, which owns Town Hall, is present at all times during events, Munoz said.

Samuel Suter, who began his term as VVFD president on March 1, said that the banquet facilities at the fire hall are run differently than other organizations.

"Arbutus [Volunteer Fire Department] doesn't rent out the hall like we do," Suter said. "We have events almost every day of the week. We're booked up every Friday and Saturday night for a year in advance."

VVFD has no control over who wants to rent its hall, Suter said.

"Anybody can rent my fire hall," he said. "You have no idea what can happen."

Suter said that he implemented several measures aimed at preventing incidents in the future, including not allowing events to go past midnight and having VVFD members present during private events.

"We will not rent to promoters," he said. "Somebody will be present at all times. If there is any disturbance, I will shut [the event] down."

Since the new practices have gone into effect, "there has not been one problem" at fire hall events, he said.

Suter said that he hoped the changes will satisfy some neighbors who have complained about fire hall events in the past.

"Parking is always going to be a problem," he said. "You can't please everybody."