San Francisco police raid illegal nightclub where over 150 revelers were caught defying lockdown orders and seize DJ equipment, two fog machines and two pool tables
- San Francisco authorities shut down an illegal nightclub where over 150 people gathered on Saturday in the Bayview District
- They violated the city’s lockdown orders issued March 16 to stay at home
- Cops seized DJ equipment, two fog machines, nine gambling machines with $670 in cash inside, two pool tables and liquor in the raid
- This marks the first time a warrant was issued in SF to enforce lockdown rules
- Time lapse video from April 4 to 6 shows people gather at the club warehouse
- In SF there are nearly 1,000 cases of COVID-19 and at least 15 deaths reported
- Learn more about how to help people impacted by COVID
An illegal nightclub in San Francisco has been shut down after more than 150 reckless locals gathered to party despite stay-at-home orders in light of the coronavirus pandemic.
Officials have slammed the gathering as ‘the epitome of irresponsibility’.
San Francisco Police officers raided the underground nightclub for violating the city’s public health order, marking the first time a warrant was issued in the city to enforce the stay-at-home policy.
The club was operated out of an industrial building at 2266 Shafter Avenue in the Bayview District, according to the San Francisco City Attorney’s Office.
Cops said in their raid they seized DJ equipment, two fog machines, nine gambling machines with $670 in cash inside, two pool tables, bins of liquor, cases of beer, bar furniture and other nightclub-related items.
An illegal nightclub in San Francisco has been shut down after more than 150 reckless partiers danced the night away despite lockdown orders in light of the coronavirus pandemic. The club was operated out of an industrial building at 2266 Shafter Avenue in the Bayview District
Officials released a timelapse video from April 4 to April 6 that shows more than 150 people entering and leaving the nightclub in the early morning hours
The surveillance camera caught people arriving to the night club despite orders to stay at home and practice social distancing
Officials released a timelapse video from April 4 to April 6 that shows more than 150 people entering and leaving the nightclub in the early morning hours.
‘None practiced six feet of social distancing. During certain times, the video showed 20 to 30 cars per hour park or depart from in front of the building,’ the San Francisco City Attorney’s office in a statement.
Officials had reported loud music and strobe lights emanating from the building on multiple occasions before the sting operation. Security guards were also seen frisking visitors as they entered.
A witness interviewed by the City Attorney’s Office also reported hearing five gunshots near the club on March 15, 2020 and said that activity at the club on April 4 and April 5 was ‘particularly raucous,’ officials said.
‘Cramming dozens of people into an illegal club during this outbreak is like dropping a lit match in the woods during fire season. Who knows how far the damage will spread? It’s the epitome of irresponsibility,’ San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera said in a statement Monday.
Cars were seen entering the warehouse from April 4 to 6 in preparation for the party
Cops said in their raid they seized DJ equipment, two fog machines, nine gambling machines with $670 in cash inside, two pool tables, bins of liquor, cases of beer, bar furniture and other nightclub-related items
Herrera admonished the group that gathered in the night club saying, ‘This pandemic is deadly serious. People need to treat it that way.’
‘Education is always the first step, but willfully ignoring health orders is not acceptable. We are going to use every tool at our disposal, including these types of warrants, to protect public health during this pandemic,’ he added.
‘The operators of this illegal club senselessly put lives at risk in a time when our city is doing everything within our means to slow the spread of this pandemic and safeguard the health and well being of the public,’ police chief William Scott said Monday.
San Francisco issued its stay-at-home order on March 16 which banned nightclubs, bars and other venues from holding gatherings in an attempt to enforce social distancing and prevent the spread of the virus.
As of Tuesday there are over 24,000 cases of the virus in California and 732 deaths. Nearly 1,000 of those cases are reported in San Francisco, where there has been 15 deaths.
The city is encouraging anyone with information about businesses or others violating the stay-at-home order during this public health emergency, please contact 311 or file a report online.