More News

A Capitol Heights venue that hosts regular go-go concerts will pay a fine but not close after several licensing violations were issued to the venue for a Dec. 28 concert after which an 18-year-old patron was killed.

After a hearing Wednesday, the Prince George's County's Liquor Control Board issued a $7,500 fine to Eric Pickens, owner of Le Pearl Ballroom, for violating the peace and safety of the community and violating conditions of his license during the concert.

That night, Washington, D.C., resident Ricardo Eugene Ray was shot to death about six blocks from the venue while driving his car down Central Avenue after getting into an argument with someone at the concert, county police said.

Speaking at the hearing, before an audience of more than 65 supporters of Le Pearl, police officers testified that concerts there have a history of ending in violence and that 15 violent incidents that have occurred since 2005 had ties to the establishment.

"I don't know that [the Dec. 28 concert] led to that person's death, but it does lead to an atmosphere where people can blame things on you," said Board of License Commissioners Chairman Franklin D. Jackson to Pickens.

The board cited Le Pearl for violations including hosting entertainment that adversely impacts or unduly disturbs the community as a public nuisance, for repetitive disturbances or disorders occurring on or about the licensed premises, and for illegal sales after hours.

"You are operating your business in a manner that this board did not envision when they gave you a license," Jackson said, citing the charging of cover at the door and the focus on entertainment rather than food as examples.

An investigation into the alleged violations was initiated after chief liquor inspector Norma Lindsay received reports from police of the homicide, she said at the hearing.

While Le Pearl is licensed to operate as a restaurant and a catering facility, it is not allowed to operate as a nightclub, Jackson said. To receive his license in 2005, Pickens signed a voluntary agreement brokered by surrounding community associations that stated he could host theme nights at the restaurant that might include live R&B and jazz bands, or a disc jockey but he could not host cabaret events or go-go bands.

Community leaders said they agreed to the license based on Pickens' promise to transform the former go-go venue that was at the site into a fine dining establishment.

"The community got burned because the tranquility and the peace that was promised was not delivered," said Arthur Turner, head of the Coalition of Central Prince George's County Community Organizations, which represents 51 civic organizations and homeowners associations including neighborhoods abutting Le Pearl. "What was promised was a high-quality restaurant, and what they got was a go-go nightclub."

Pickens said after the hearing that there was gray area in what he believed was allowable under his license and he thought he was still operating within his licensed rights by hosting live bands. He admitted that go-go music is played at the club but debated the semantics of classifying a group as a go-go band. In order to avoid future violations, Pickens said he has to stop charging covers, close Le Pearl at 2 a.m., and provide more seating space for dining rather than open space for dancing.

Pickens was only required to pay half of the fine upfront but will be required to pay the rest of the $7,500 fine if he receives another violation in the next year, the board ruled.

County police officers testified at the hearing that since November 2005, when Pickens received his license for Le Pearl, they have responded to 15 violent incidents either at Le Pearl or to incidents in the surrounding area that involved patrons. The incidents, the majority of which were shootings, include three homicides. Five of the incidents took place in the parking lot of Le Pearl, while the rest were off the restaurant's property. Two of those incidents involved a police officer that fired shots.

Police and community members were upset with the decision not to order a shutdown of Le Pearl.

"We would have liked to have seen their license suspended," said Capt. Gevonia Whittington, commander of the Dist. 3 police station, which oversees the area that includes Le Pearl. "We are disappointed and will continue to stand against entertainment that masquerades violence."

Le Pearl was one of nine venues shuttered for a short time in 2007 at the order of County Executive Jack B. Johnson as part of a countywide crackdown on establishments labeled as magnets for violent crime. In order to reopen, all of the businesses worked with police and county officials to complete case-by-case security plans that would take into account issues like lighting, landscaping, cameras and security guards on the premises.

As part of his own security plan, Pickens said he spent approximately $10,000 to add more lighting in the parking lot as well as indoor and outdoor security cameras.

"We do a very good job of assessment of security needs. We can't try to follow people all the way home," he said of the incidents that occurred off Le Pearl's property.

Pickens said he plans to restructure the way Le Pearl operates to avoid any further violations but was unsure what that would mean for the future of the venue. A few previously booked concerts will have to be modified in some way to make them work, he said.

Community members said they will be watching closely for even the slightest violation.

"We will be going there to see what is going on and we will be looking to see the type of entertainment that is going on, the security that is present, and the mode of operation," Turner said.

The message should be out to go-go bands that play in the county to ditch violent followings or drop their drumbeats for good as the coalition will begin targeting other establishments that host go-go concerts that turn violent, he said.