Twelve individuals found themselves in cuffs following an early Saturday raid on the Plaza 45 nightclub in north Houston, with Houston police clamping down on what they believe is an unlicensed after-hours club. KHOU reports a line-up of arrests including the owner, two managers, four bartenders, two unlicensed security guards, and three customers who were wanted on outstanding warrants.
The club, situated at 770 W. Gulf Bank Road, apparently played host to undercover officers on several occasions, during which alcohol was sold beyond the permissible time, past the stroke of 2 a.m., in violation of Texas state law; this despite the club lacking a license for alcohol sale, according to the authorities. "This is a huge effort that the Houston Police Department's been putting out lately," said Cpt. Ryan Watson with HPD, highlighting repeated violence associated with after-hours clubs across the city as they hammered down on the establishment, the KHOU report adds.
Meanwhile, The Houston Chronicle mentions that the arrests came as part of a joint initiative with agencies such as the Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission and the Texas Comptroller’s Office to combat the proliferation of illicit after-hours venues. Notably, this crackdown aligns with Houston Mayor John Whitmire's commitment to address post-midnight alcohol-related violence. The dozen detainees now face various charges, with police continuing to coordinate on potential additional accusations, including tax violations in connection with the unauthorized alcohol sales.
Evidence of the reported misdeeds was found in the form of alcohol, which was seized by police during the raid, signaling that the city isn't taking the issue of these illegal clubs lightly especially when considering the string of violent incidents tied to such establishments, Ryan Watson, commander of HPD's North Patrol Division, told The Houston Chronicle. In the wake of the arrests, HPD also plans to reach out to the owner of the property to ensure compliance with state regulations moving forward.
