Shooting causes Lodge license revocation

Local gang violence has caused the revocation of a public dance hall license from The Lodge, a Commerce establishment.

The Lodge, a local event center, had its license removed on Jan. 1 due to multiple shootings and one stabbing assumed to be related to gang activity in the region.

"About the only time we have gang violence is when Commerce and Greenville get together," Commerce Chief of Police Kerry Crews said. "There are some wannabes [in Commerce] that will throw their gang signs and wear their colors…but they don't commit violence here in town. Now, when Greenville people come over, there's always been a longtime rivalry…and when you mix those [together] that is when the problems occur."

According to Crews, the violence is directed more toward the community of Commerce.

"It is not Greenville people that are getting shot out there," Crews said. "The only ones getting hurt are Commerce people. I do not want anybody to get hurt."

Crews laid out the statistics of violent occurrences at The Lodge as of April 6, 2006. The police have responded to 17 disturbances. 10 of those disturbances were due to shots being fired. Three people have been shot on the premises and one person has been stabbed. Fights have also been reported.

"In the last few months it has gotten worse," Crews said. "Two of the times that we had shootings out there were within the last 4-5 months. The owner of The Lodge and I have spoken more than once about being particular to whom he rents to and calling in off-duty security guards…it just wasn't working out."

Dennis Waldman, the owner of The Lodge, does not think the violence is a viable reason to lose his dance hall license.

"Now, there was a stabbing," Waldman said. "This is a crime scene? I don't see any blood. I haven't washed it. Don't tell me that he was stabbed…he had a cut."

However, Crews has a different opinion.

"It wasn't as minor as what was portrayed at the council meeting," Crews said. "It wasn't just a slice. From what I understand they did a roundhouse. Even if it was a minor injury, if you're pulling a weapon like a knife or gun, the potential is there to have a major injury."

According to Crews, one of the gunshot victims had to undergo surgery to have a bullet removed from her foot. The other victim was shot through the fatty part of his leg. There were 23 shots fired in all on New Year's Eve night in less than two minutes.

Waldman did acknowledge guns were an issue at The Lodge.

"Why don't you leave high school at home," Waldman said. "What are you doing with guns in your trunk in Commerce? I understand non-college students having guns in their trunk. But college kids with guns in their trunk?"

Crews explained in a public meeting with city officials that most, if not all, of the violence at The Lodge is gang-related.

"How did the police know that these were gang-related incidences?" Waldman said. "During the police investigation and during the event, blue scarves and red scarves were observed."

Waldman expressed concerns of racism.

"While the shots were being fired [on New Year's Eve], a female turned and went directly into the gunfire," Waldman said. "I wondered why. I was told, ‘Well that's because they're used to it.'"

Crews disagreed.

"I don't think it's a racial thing," Crews said. "Unfortunately, the parties that we do have a problem with [at The Lodge] are the African-American parties. There are African-American citizens in the community that have expressed concerns about the place, because it's their family and their kids getting shot."

Crews stated gang-related violence has stopped at The Lodge since the revocation of the dance hall license.

"He can come back and keep applying to have his license reinstated," Crews said. "The city council does not have to support that. At this point they would have to change it so it would still have to come to me. With the trouble [the dance hall license] has caused, and my just now revoking it, there is no way I can reissue it."

Since the dance hall portion of The Lodge has been shut down, Waldman has attempted to contact the NAACP and LULAC because he fears civil rights have been violated. However, they have not acknowledged his concern.

"We live in the South," Waldman said. "This is bigger that what you realize."