A massive Halloween rager was broken up early Sunday morning in the Bronx after hundreds of costumer-wearing party-goers were caught crowding in a packed warehouse as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, according to the Sheriff's Office.
Just before 1:30 a.m. on Sunday, deputy sheriffs found more than 557 people dancing and drinking alcohol inside a warehouse on Seabury Avenue near Butler Place. The party had two DJs and a walk-up bar, as well as bathrooms and a food truck set up in a loading zone, according to Sheriff Joseph Fucito, who also noted that that social distancing was not being practiced.
Deputy sheriffs saw more than 150 people entering from a back gate at 1445 Commerce Avenue to get inside, the Sheriff's Office said.
The venue didn't have a liquor license of any kind, in violation of state liquor laws in addition to coronavirus emergency orders.
The party was shut down and some 20 organizers, bouncers, employees, and entertainers were slapped with court appearance tickets.
More than 550 people were counted at the Bronx warehouse party.
AVS Production Group, which used to be called Abe V. Systems, Inc., per its website, was fined $15,000 and issued violations for an unlicensed bottle club and storing liquor. The company did not immediately return a voicemail message.
Fifteen people were given appearance tickets for violating emergency coronavirus orders and $1,000 fines for health code violations.
Five others were given similar violations, but with $15,000 fines.
The 20 arrested were between 28- and 62-years-old from across Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx, as well as from outside of the city in Monroe, New York, Cornwall, New York, and Stamford, Connecticut.
On Friday night, another Halloween party was busted in Brooklyn, with costumed dancers drinking and crowding without adequate mask wearing, according to a photograph released by the Sheriff's Office.
The Sheriff's Office has been tasked with enforcing pandemic regulations by the de Blasio administration after the NYPD faced scrutiny early on in the pandemic for violent arrests and racial disparities for COVID-related enforcement actions.
