South Rio called a ‘nuisance’ by police following brawl
TRENTON » The alcohol-fueled fighting started in the club.
The angry mob then made its way onto the street early Saturday morning, continuing to throw haymakers, land kicks and pull hair.
The scene at South Rio at 120 S. Warren St. has become far too common for police.
“That establishment has become a nuisance and we’re addressing those issues,” Lt. David Cruz said Monday. “It seems like every time they’re having an event there officers are responding.”
This past weekend was no different.
Video posted to YouTube from Friday night’s event at South Rio shows groups of women going UFC on each other in the club.
“Come on y’all,” the DJ pleads with the crowd. “Get em’ out of here. You all chill out, man. Chill out y’all. It ain’t worth it.”
Clearly, the message from the DJ did not sink in as the fights continued on South Warren Street.
Two officers eventually responded, the video shows.
They attempt to break up one of the fights. However, some unruly people continued to throw punches and kicks at the pile despite the officers’ presence.
After the dust had settled, police gave one city woman a hand summons for failure to disperse. The woman was identified by police as Sandra Hilton, 47, of the 500 block of West Ingham Avenue.
The South Rio ruckus highlighted a bigger problem that Trenton’s understaffed police department faces. The cops that responded on Saturday could have been overpowered by the large mob that numbered in the hundreds.
“These guys are rolling around on the floor, outnumbered 20-to-1,” said Councilman George Muschal, a retired city cop who served 40 years on the force. “It was out of control. I only saw two cops.”
Muschal recently opposed a proposed entertainment district downtown due to safety concerns. That measure failed earlier this month.
“It’s a proven fact that you need manpower in order to control a crowd that’s out of control like the one at South Rio,” said Muschal, who is seeking re-election. “This is only a bar letting loose and we have no control over it. It goes to show you that we need officers before we need an entertainment area downtown.”
Cruz called this weekend’s brawl a “tough situation” for police.
“If there’s a few hundred and there’s only 20-30 officers, we’re outnumbered,” Trenton’s police spokesman said. “It seems like we’re always undermanned when we have big events. We could always utilize additional resources.”
Cruz said when bars let out late at night, police will have “less resources.”
South Rio moved into the old Maxine’s in June 2015. At the time, owner Henry Mata presented the place as a restaurant, though, it has quickly turned into a nightclub.
“We’re going to open a nice place where you feel good to eat,” Mata told The Trentonian during the establishment’s opening. “I see the need for a place where they can come and enjoy a beautiful meal, a beautiful lunch for a good price.”
Efforts to reach Mata for comment were unsuccessful.
The building is owned by real estate mogul George Zoffinger, who kicked out beloved city restaurant The Big Easy in order to transform the place into a nightclub with a liquor license. Zoffinger did not return a call seeking comment.
Trenton Alcohol Beverage Control Detective Christopher Franicevich said Monday there are “pending charges” against South Rio. He declined further comment.
Friday night’s event at South Rio was a victory party for undefeated city boxer Mike Hilton. Hilton won a fight on March 10 in Atlantic City. His trainer did not return a message seeking comment about this weekend’s illegal brawl at South Rio.
South Rio will also be the scene of Councilman Duncan Harrison’s campaign fundraiser for mayor on March 29. Harrison did not return a message seeking comment.
Muschal said he is going to ask Harrison to “recuse himself” from voting on any actions city council takes against South Rio. Trenton council is the legislative body that can suspend and revoke liquor licenses in the city for violations.
Police is asking anyone with information about the South Rio fights to contact them at 609-989-4155.
“If we can identify anybody else that’s involved with any type of criminal element, we’ll take aggressive enforcement against those individuals,” Cruz said.