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After late‑night disturbance, council follows police recommendation for weekend detail at Elite Lounge
Summary
After the May 5 disturbance at Elite Lounge, the North Providence police recommended a weekend detail; council voted to require one officer Friday and Saturday nights for June and July and to revisit the requirement later.
Owner Carlos Nolasco Acevedo described an incident at Elite Lounge on May 5 that began about 12:40 a.m. and escalated before police arrived. He said some patrons were bar‑hopping, appeared intoxicated and an altercation involved two security employees and two patrons.
"They were already they seem intoxicated," Nolasco said describing how the situation escalated and the need for staff to call for police assistance.
Lieutenant Ryan Emerson of the North Providence Police Department said officers arrived to find people fighting and that no arrests were made. He recommended assigning a detail officer on Friday and Saturday nights from 10 p.m. until 2 a.m. during a probationary/review period, noting past noise and safety issues at similar establishments.
Council members discussed the business hardship of paying for a detail and the council's past practice of following police recommendations. On motion, council adopted the police department's recommendation: the business is to have one police officer on duty on Friday and Saturday nights for June and July; the council will revisit the requirement at a later meeting.
Why it matters: The council is the licensing authority; it typically follows police advice on public-safety conditions attached to liquor and entertainment licenses. The decision balances neighborhood safety and the economic pressure on a new business.
What happens next: The licensee was instructed to coordinate the detail scheduling with the police department and to return to council if there are further incidents or for reassessment.
