Sheriff shuts down an illegal Queens party

The city sheriff’s office busted another illegal weekend party early Sunday, sending more than 160 Queens revelers home as COVID rates continue to rise.

The sheriff and his deputies, performing surveillance, watched organizers bring in crates of alcohol and set up a party inside a business called Event Center on 243rd St. near Mayda Road in Rosedale early Sunday, officials said.

Two bouncers were leading guests down an alley and through a backdoor when deputies busted the party about 2:20 a.m., finding more than 160 partyers dancing, drinking and smoking hookah at a ‘“dangerously close” distance, the sheriff’s office said. Deputies arrested the two bouncers, Sha-Mel Lamont Jones, 21, and Jason Hicks, 35, who were unlicensed to work in security, along with the DJ and a partyer who was found with marijuana and a hatchet, officials said.

The venue was slapped with what could result in $15,000 in fines for disregarding COVID guidelines, along with violations for operating an illegal bottle club. The building was also slapped for breaking fire code as it kept the main entrance, a pull-down garage door, closed to hide the party going on inside.

The DJ, Andres Cadavid, 28, could be fined $1,000 for promoting unnecessary gatherings during the COVID pandemic, officials said.

COVID rates have continued to rise citywide from about 1% in early July to 5.33% over the past week, city data show. The neighborhood where the party took place clocked in above-average infection rates over the past week at 7.78%.

The Queens event that was busted is one of many illegal parties that continue to take place.

Two weeks ago, the firebrand owner of Mac’s Public House on Staten Island, Daniel Presti, allegedly slammed his car into a sheriff’s deputy trying to arrest him. The sheriff’s office had been conducting surveillance on the Staten Island bar and busted it for continuing to serve patrons with no masks.

On Nov. 22, the sheriff’s office busted an illegal sex club in Astoria, Queens, where it found an orgy-like event complete with bowls of condoms, a buffet, rooms for sex and multiple couples having sex.

This summer, an illegal party boat was shut down after it took sail around Manhattan stuffed with Instagram influencers, a full bar and a dance floor.