Queens warehouse shut down after illegally converted to concert hall with 300 people inside
ELMHURST, Queens (WABC) -- A warehouse in Queens was shut down after police discovered it had been illegally converted to a concert hall with 300 people inside.
Jesus Rodas, the owner of the warehouse on Barnwell, says the spot is an indoor space for sports, but the NYPD says that was not the case early Saturday morning.
Deputy Commissioner Kaz Daughtry posted photos on social media, saying the warehouse was unlawfully transformed into a concert hall.
Daughtry tells Eyewitness News that officers were initially called to the area because of a fight in the middle of the street. When they arrived, they found hundreds of people packed into the warehouse with alcohol and food for sale.
Rodas says he took over as the owner six months ago and says the party last night was just for family.
"Oh this is the party to give you know, family is no law. No, no, no business. They are all people like family. They make party for family - that's it," Rodas said.
According to Daughtry, the event was dangerous, with possibly 500 people packed inside, and he doesn't believe this was the first time a party like this had been held at the location.
Officers wrote several summonses for selling alcohol amounting to thousands of dollars.
He also suspects several people were underage drinking.
Rodas says he does not believe people were in danger on Friday.
ALSO READ: 29-year-old woman stabbed to death one day after order of protection against child's father expired
----------
* More Queens news
* Send us a news tip
* Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts
* Follow us on YouTube
Submit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness News
Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If attaching a video or photo, terms of use apply.
