16 The QUEE NS Courier • SEPTEMBER 1, 2016 for breaking news visit www.qns.com Owners of three Flushing karaoke bars sue the NYPD for $300M over bribery probe violations By Robert Pozarycki rpozarycki@qns.com/@robbpoz Claiming they were victims of intimidation and selective enforcement connected to a corruption probe at the 109th Precinct, the owners of three Flushing karaoke bars have filed a $300 million class action lawsuit against the NYPD and other government officials. The complaint filed in federal court last week accuses top-ranking members of the NYPD of allegedly concocting a conspiracy to squash the bribery investigation that has so far resulted in the arrest of two members of the 109th Precinct Detective Squad. Twentythree additional officers at the 109th Precinct are also under investigation. Police Commissioner Bill Bratton was named among the defendants in the lawsuit along with Deputy Commissioner of Internal Affairs Joseph Reznick; Assistant Chief Diana Pizzuti, commander of Patrol Borough Queens North; and Deputy Inspector Thomas Conforti, former 109th Precinct commanding officer who was transferred in May to the Crime Prevention Division in Manhattan. Last December, Lt. Robert Sung The 109th Precinct stationhouse in Flushing and Det. Yatyu Yam of the 109th Precinct Detective Squad were charged for allegedly soliciting and receiving bribes from the owners of local karaoke bars in exchange for providing them with inside information regarding upcoming surprise police inspections. According to the lawsuit, the NYPD led a number of aggressive enforcement operations at the 360 Lounge at 133-47 37th Ave., Forbidden City NY at 131-01 Fowler Ave. and Home Run KTV at 46-07 Kissena Blvd. The owners of the three bars “noticed a significant increase in selective enforcement Photo via Google Maps actions” from the 109th Precinct, the State Liquor Authority and other government agencies dating back to late 2014. The plaintiffs claimed that officers and other government officials would make unannounced inspections at the establishments, often forcing customers to leave; in some cases, they frisked and even arrested patrons without just cause, the lawsuit noted. Police also set up a number of undercover drug purchases at Home Run KTV in April 2015 as part of a narcotics enforcement operation, the lawsuit noted. Later that month, police arrested 18 individuals and allegedly accused the club’s owners of allowing drug deals on premises. The owners of 360 Lounge, which had closed on Dec. 31, 2015, while awaiting renewal of their liquor license, claimed the establishment was unlawfully searched by police on Jan. 15 of this year. Police later indicated it received access to the closed bar after receiving consent to search the building from the manager of an adjacent sushi bar. “Here, we have all of this legislative reform regarding police corruption in New York City, yet the public still suffers,” said attorney Eric Sanders, who represents the owners of the three karaoke bars. “Certainly, my clients feel the mayor, police commissioner and district attorney are simply waiting for everything to blow over, and then close the criminal case, handling everything within the NYPD as in other police scandals.” When contacted by The Courier, the city’s Law Department did not provide comment other than, “The lawsuit will be reviewed.” The Law Department handles any legal action brought against the NYPD and other city agencies. Celebrate 50 Years of Star Trek Screening, Trivia and Costume Contests Join your hosts, pop culture author and historian Robert V. Conte and Star Trek fan and trivia maven Arline Abdalian, as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of this landmark TV series! We’re going to go back to the very beginning with the screening of the first-ever broadcasted episode, The Man Trap. Light refreshments will be served. Seating is limited; first-come, firstserved. We will also end the evening with Star Trek trivia and costume contests with prizes for the winners. Finally, there will be free Star Trek giveaways to the first 40 attendees. Thursday, September 8 5 pm Douglaston/ Little Neck 249-01 Northern Boulevard 718-225-8414 Train: LIRR /Bus: Q12, N20, N21 Admission is free. www.queenslibrary.org This event is sponsored by the Friends of the Douglaston/Little Neck Community Library. Queens Library is an independent, not-for-profit corporation and is not affiliated with any other library system. 1938-8/16 1665-8/16 NEGRO LEAGUE BASEBALL .311 Please join us for an evening with local author and historian Philip Ross as he presents the history of baseball’s Negro Leagues, its teams and players. Mr. Ross will draw upon his lengthy research and interviews with dozens of former players, many of whom have become close friends. He will also discuss the integration of Major League Baseball, which led to the ending of the Negro L eagues. The goal of the presenter is to inspire the audience to learn more about these stars, teams and leagues that served as building blocks in baseball. Light refreshments will be served. Seating is limited; first-come, first-served. Monday, September 12 6 pm Douglaston/Little Neck 249-01 Northern Boulevard 718-225-8414 Train: LIRR Bus: Q12, N20, N21 Admission is free. www.queenslibrary.org This event is sponsored by the Friends of the Douglaston/Little Neck Community Library. Queens Library is an independent, not-for-profit corporation and is not affiliated with any other library system.
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