About Me
New York City Cops Lie on Court Documents, Receive "Cop of the Year" Award
Recognize your friends? Sergeant Robert Gibson and his partner Officer Stavroula Choriatis with the 2007 Cop of the Year award.
Most people are aware now, and if not they can read my many posts and blogs on this page that describe the events, that the last Last Resort Art Space party on 11/17/07 was broken up by the cops, who needlessly forced me to spend the night in a holding cell (which is not standard procedure for an alleged alcohol permit violation), finger-printed me and even cuffed me before they led me out of my loft space even though I was peaceful and calm and co-operated with them in every way without disputing with them whatsoever. The depravity and moral degeneracy of these "officers of the law" was demonstrated even further by false statements they made on documents submitted to the court with regard to my case.
The two officers in this photo have a long history with Last Resort Art Space. They have busted up several of the last few parties (or showed up after the party was already over). They and the other officers with them enter the loft space each time as if they are conducting a raid. They scream and yell and tell every one to get up against the wall. When I asked them why they keep harassing me and my guests, law-abiding citizens, instead of doing their job which is to investigate crime and pursue criminals, they said that they get noise complaints from some neighbor of mine. If you've been to Last Resort, you know that most of what is adjacent to us is junkyards, empty lots and abandoned buildings, but yes there are a handful of residences nearby. An occupant of one of these residences is complaining about the parties, apparently only when the parties get large, for I do practice here late at night on weekends, with the music quite loud, and the Last Resort party one 11/16/07, which had less than 100 people, did not receive a visit from the cops.
The behavior of these police officers when entering my loft space is ridiculous and unwarranted. Getting super-aggressive and pretending like you're conducting a raid? For a noise complaint?!!!? They could just ask me to turn the music down, or to stop the party. Ask me, I'll cooperate. No need to pretend like you're doing dangerous police work when you're busting up a party of peaceful music fans just having a fun time. I guess these sad souls need to get their kicks somehow. Out here in Astoria where it's quiet, they don't get to be the badasses they want to be. They must watch too many "cop" action movies and fantasize about what it's like to take a bad guy down, and then when the call comes for a party/noise complaint, they realize there's no real danger but they will get to enter a room full of people and pretend that they have control and subjugate them, as if there's some thing really happening, so they get all pumped up and enter blazin', saying "Yippie kayay motherfuckers!" It's so pathetic.
When I went to court for the summons they had issued me, my attorney came up to me with the case file in his hand. "Were you selling brandy at your party?," he asked. I had a beer permit for the 11/17 party, which allows one to only sell beer & wine. Distilled liquor of any kind cannot be sold with such a permit, and isn't even allowed on site. Since I'd had visits from the cops before this one, and Sgt. Gibson had warned me very sternly not to have a party again, I knew there could be trouble, and thus I adhered to this stipulation of the beer permit. I made it clear on this myspace page, told all the bands, the email list and any one I had invited that people would not be allowed to enter with their own alcoholic beverages. I told every one that beer would be available on site to those who presented proper identification demonstrating that they were of legal age to purchase alcohol. No other type of alcohol would be provided. At the party we checked the IDs of every one entering and marked a big "X" on the hand of any one who did not present proper ID demonstrating legal age.
When, around 2:30am, the cops aggressively busted into this party, I showed Sgt. Gibson my beer permit, which stumped him for a good while. He didn't expect that, in answer to his absurd, authoritarian threat to punish me if I continued to have parties and concerts, I would obtain a legal document that granted me permission to have the party and to sell beer at it. He stared at the permit, pacing back and forth, clearly frustrated, for a good 10 minutes. I could tell he really wanted to bring me in, he was so mad that I had another party. It seemed like he thought of it as defiance of his word, as if being an NYPD sergeant grants him the power to force people to do what he says even if they are not breaking a law. On the permit was printed in fine print "Valid 11/17/07 8:00pm to 11/17/07 1:00am". It's clearly a typo and makes no sense (hint: it should say "11/18/07 1:00am"), but Sgt. Gibson saw it as a reason to bring me in. The New York State Liquor Authority had never mentioned any thing to me, not at any time during the application process, not on the application forms nor when I went to their office to pick up the permit, about the permit being valid only for a specified time period. Thus I was surprised when Sgt. Gibson claimed the permit had a time limit, but I did pick it up off the ground where he had tossed it and found the verbiage quoted above, though I had to look very hard for it (just as he had).
Normally in a situation like this a summons is issued and the police leave. But Sgt, Gibson decided this wasn't good enough punishment for me. He wanted to make me spend the night in jail. He knew it was not standard procedure to bring some one for a supposed beer permit violation, so he called his dispatch, explained the situation and we both stood there waiting for several minutes while some one at the station went to check whether it was legal or not for him to arrest me. Finally the answer came back. "I can arrest him? It's legal for me to arrest him? Good that's all I need to know."
So right then he tells me to turn around and he puts the cuffs on me. This is also highly irregular. I was pleasant and respectful to him, despite his initially extremely violent demeanor, the entire time. When I told him that I had a permit, I was calm, and I was also calm when I asked him about the supposed permit violation. At no time did I dispute with him, move aggressively or even raise my voice. He was cuffing me merely as a way to do every thing he could to make this as unpleasant an experience for me as possible. It was a sorry attempt to shame me (which was wasted, I could care less if they cuff me before they lead me out, except for the asshole intent behind it), to show my guests that he clearly had won and could take me in despite my permit. Also highly irregular for a supposed permit violation, my attorney told me, was that Sgt. Gibson finger-printed me later that night at the precint. Any way I spent the night in a holding cell at the precint. Luckily, it was not legal for them to take me to Central Booking so that I might spend more time in jail, but I am quite certain that if somehow it could have been construed as something legal for an officer to do for a supposed permit violation that Sgt. Gibson would have done it.
Anyway, the alleged beer permit violation was for continuing the party past 1:00am. Oddly enough, the cops never went and checked out my bar. As the permit demanded, I had only one Point Of Sale (POS) set up behind a bar in the kitchen area, which is where I had the permit on display and where all the beer supplies were kept. The cops busted through the door and then straight out through the window that leads to the roof. They never came within 30ft. of my bar. They did not observe what I was selling, or if I was even selling at all. This bothered me because, if I was being issued a summons for supposedly selling beer after 1:00am in violation of my permit, shouldn't they be required to present proof that I was indeed selling at that time. I don't understand why the mere fact that people were still at the party and a dj still playing can be considered proof that beer was being sold at that time. Lots of clubs keep going with djs and dancing after they've stopped selling alcohol at the bar. I mentioned this to my attorney, but he acted like it didn't matter.
Nonetheless, even if they don't need proof that I was selling after 1:00am, I can see how they would realize that their case was pretty weak. The judge is going to be like, "Oh, so the guy didn't end the party in time, big deal." Thus, to make their case stronger, Officer Choriatis lied and said I was selling brandy, which would, if it were true, be another, and perhaps more serious, violation of the permit. She put this false statement on the case file that my attorney read and asked me about.
Sgt. Gibson and Officer Choriatis are partners. Even though Sgt. Gibson is the one in charge each time they raid the loft, the one who had made threats to me on their previous visits (which often involved 10-20 officers entering the loft, seriously), the one who examined my beer permit and the one who cuffed me, it's his partner who was put down as the arresting officer. I imagine having this arrest in her name only helped propel her towards ultimately winning that 2007 "Cop of the Year" Award, and that's why they did it. She's no angel, either. Clearly, lying on court documents that have your name on them and in which you affirm the truthfulness of what you state is not something an upright and honest person would do. I also witnessed her harass one of my guests mercilessly because of something he said to her. I didn't even hear what he said (I think this was at the Halloween Party), but whatever it was, it really pissed her off and she played some serious cops games with this guy to show her displeasure. She got worked up too on my ride to the precint, yelling at me about how there was a 16 year old at my party and how it was wrong for me to let all ages of music fans into these events, as if the party is some sort of evil environment. But she did actually seem to chill out and listen when I told her that it isn't wrong, that the kids do need a place to go to hear music and see their friends play, that back in Houston when I was 16 I used to see great bands at all kinds of alcohol-selling venues and that, like those venues, all I was responsible for doing was making sure that the underage people at my party couldn't buy or bring in alcohol. Oddly enough, she was all friendly with me when they released me from the precint at 9am on Sunday morning, telling me, "you can't have any more parties or my boss will get you," and even, "your parties sound like fun, if I wasn't a cop, I'd go to them."
I guess I shouldn't be surprised about them lying. Cops lie all the time, it appears. It's as if their function in society is to lie and abuse their authority. If it appears, after abusing their authority, that they had a weak reason to arrest some one and charge them with a crime, lying is the only thing they can do to try to make their case appear more valid. But brandy? WTF. Who fucking drinks brandy at a rock show? Although the show was all ages, grandma did not come out, not this time at least (but she would be welcome - I really mean that about all ages). Brandy. I thought that was really funny.
Do you want to have more underground music parties? If so, then read this:
This case has caused me a great deal of hassle. As I stated before this case went to court, I will not be able to put on events in my loft again, and, considering the threats made to me by Sgt. Gibson and Officer Choriatis as they led me to the cell last time, I should probably avoid having an event in the 114th precinct altogether. I don't have the money to defend myself from whatever false charges they may bring against me in the future.
So I need to find space I can rent for a party. It has to be cheap enough to rent for one night (and perhaps allow clean-up to wait for the following day) that I can expect to make a small profit after paying for all the expenses and for a security guy and after throwing a little to the bands and to the friends and volunteers who help me put on the event by doing the door, tending bar, running sound and cleaning up.
The space should be in an industrial rather than a residential area so that we don't get noise complaints from neighbors serving as an excuse for excessively aggro cops to bust the party up raid-style.
The landlord of this space will have to be willing to sign a permission form allowing us to apply for a beer permit.
The party will have to end at 1:00am, since the New York State Liquor Authority office told me (after I called them asking about the little phrase on my permit that got me slapped with a summons) that even though it is not a law, their director makes them follow a policy of cutting off all temporary beer permits at 1:00am.
I will need for a sufficient number of people who love these parties and keep asking me when I will throw the next one to step up and offer to volunteer for the various things needing doing at the party for this to work. Usually the volunteers only have to put in an hour or two max, unless you want to work more - some people have found it to be kind of fun, and it certainly isn't hard work. I'm usually successful at arranging things so that no matter what job you are doing to help, you are still in the main room, with all the people and can see the bands. There's a tip jar at the bar so you will get a little bit of cash, depending on how much time you put in, and I may be able to throw in a little from my profits if the tips aren't that much.
Most importantly, if I am to have an event in the next 6 months, I need some one (other than myself) willing to apply for the beer permit and that person must be willing to talk to the cops if they show up and willing to take the heat if the shit goes sour. You won't have to do any thing else - I can take care of all the details of setting up the show, booking bands, sending out info to my email list and marketing the show (the bands will also help with this of course), setting up the PA and coordinating with the bands for the other gear, coordinating the volunteers so that the door and bar are in good hands we can trust and we don't sell to minors, running things the night of the show and cleaning up afterwards. If we end at 1:00am, the beer permit should keep the cops from charging you with any thing, but if they do even so, all the profits from door and beer sales will go to your legal defense, and in such a case I would consider that money that would normally go to the bands and volunteers should go to your defense instead. Given that I made enough from the last party after expenses to pay 4 bands pretty well and cover my legal fees, I think the profits (after paying for rent, beer, security and damaged or stolen gear) would be enough to cover yours if need be, but I cannot promise to cover any fees in excess of the profits. It's a risk, but not very much if we adhere to the permit cut-off time. See how much fun it is to throw a party! You will get public recognition for making the party happen.
So yeah - let me know if you know of some good spaces or you are willing to apply for the permit. In the mean time, I am enjoying taking some time off from the duties of party organizer. I get more time to play my own music now - I am playing shows with my band Dared The Knot, and I am also starting up a new ambient project that we haven't named yet.
Peace,
Derek
Check out this article on Underground New York featuring Last Resort Art Space.
LOCATION: 8-63 Astoria Blvd (between 8th St and 12th St), in Astoria, Queens (11102). LOOK FOR THE GREEN DOOR WITH "863" SPRAY-PAINTED ON IT IN SILVER. This door is usually unlocked. Let yourself in. You will see a stairwell in front of you. Climb the stairwell. At the top of the stairs you will see a door on your right. Knock on this door and we'll let you in.
View our location on WikiMapia here .
DIRECTIONS:
By public transit...
Subway: take the N/W line to Astoria Blvd. Exit the subway station at the intersection of Astoria Blvd. and 31st St. (Hint: Walk towards the back of the train before exiting the station). You're at the correct corner of the intersection if you see a funeral parlor. Now walk west (aka in the direction of decreasingly numbered cross streets) along Astoria Blvd until 21st St. At 21st St you will see a wedge shaped building in front of you. Bear left around this building (but do not make a left) to stay on Astoria Blvd. Go until 12th St. After the intersection with 12th St, look on your right for number 8-63. Total distance from the station: 0.7 miles. There is a Gmaps pedometer route here .
Alternative subway (you should only take this route if you already know how to get here; it is shorter but more complicated): Take the N/W line to 30th Ave/Grand Ave. Walk west (in the direction of decreasingly numbered cross streets) on 30th Ave until 21st St. Cross the street and make a right. Walk to 29th Ave and make a left. Walk to the intersection with 12th St. 12th St intersects 29th Ave at an oblique angle and looks like an alley. Make a right onto it anyway. Walk one very short block to Astoria Blvd. Cross the street and make a left. Look on your right for number 8-63. Total distance from the station: 0.65 miles. There is a Gmaps pedometer route here .
Bus from Williamsburg/Greenpoint: Take the B61 bus north (it runs along Bedford Ave and Manhattan Ave), go over the Pulaski bridge. Get off at the 23rd St/Ely Ave subway stop. Transfer to 19A bus. Take that north on 21st St. Get off at Astoria Blvd. Walk west for 5 minutes. Look for on your right for number 8-63. total distance from the bus stop: 0.2 miles. There is a Gmaps pedometer route here .
By bicycle...
From Brooklyn: Go to Meeker aka the BQE service road. Take Meeker to McGuiness Ave. Go north on McGuiness until the Pulaski bridge. (That's the little bridge that goes from Brooklyn to Queens over a canal.) Go over the Pulaski and go straight on 11th St. Take 11th St until 44th Drive. Make a left on 44th Drive. Make a right on Vernon Blvd. You'll cross under the Queensboro Bridge. You pass the Roosevelt Island Bridge, Rainey Park, Costco and the Socrates Sculpture Park, all on your left. Vernon Blvd ends and turns to the right, becoming a street called Main Avenue. Stay on Main Avenue for two blocks. You will pass a lot of parked school buses. Main Avenue merges into Astoria Blvd. Where these streets merge, look on your left for number 8-63. Total distance from Meeker and McGuinness: 4.3 miles. There is a Gmaps pedometer route here .
From Manhattan: Take the Queensboro bridge. At the bottom of the bridge make a hard left turn onto Queens Plaza North. Go 2 blocks until 23rd St. Make a right onto 23rd St. Take this until it ends at 36th Ave. Make a left onto 36th Ave. Make a right onto 12th St. Take 12th St until 30th Ave, then go FOR TWO MORE BLOCKS on 12th St. After the intersection with 30th Ave, 12th St veers to the right and then to the left. Just make sure to stay on 12th St, even though it looks like its turning into a little alley. 12th St will cross 29th Ave and then it will hit Astoria Blvd. Make a left on Astoria Blvd. Look on your right for number 8-63. Total distance from the bridge: 1.9 miles. There is a Gmaps pedometer route here
From the Bronx: Take the Triboro bridge. The bridge bike path ends in a set of stairs that descend to 27th St and Hoyt Avenue. Take 27th St south (aka uphill, a very small hill) for 2 blocks. Make a right on Astoria Blvd. Take Astoria Blvd until 21st St. At 21st St you will see a wedge shaped building in front of you. Bear left around this building (but do not make a left) to stay on Astoria Blvd. Go until 12th St. After the intersection with 12th St, look on your right for number 8-63. Total distance from the bridge: 0.6 miles. There is a Gmaps pedometer route here .
For directions by car, call nine1seven 4four3 eight8one5.
If you get lost on the way to Last Resort, call the number above or call 3four7 8zero6 2three9nine.
