Five individuals, including three managers and two bartenders, are facing charges following a police raid on an after-hours club in north Houston, named Underground Storage. The raid, carried out by the Houston Police Department's After-Hours Club Task Force, occurred on West Little York at approximately 2:30 a.m. yesterday. According to Click2Houston, the officers acted upon complaints related to illegal alcohol sales, drugs and excessive noise emerging from the venue.
Houston Police Department officials said that they had moved to promptly shut down the operations after gathering evidence of illicit activities. The team was able to seize cocaine and unpermitted alcohol from within the club's premises. Furthermore, intoxication enforcement units detained multiple individuals, suspected to have been driving while intoxicated, as they attempted to leave the establishment. "Establishments like this contribute to an increase for calls for service, they disrupt our community and, this location right here, a month ago, there was an HPD sergeant that was involved in a crash with a DWI individual. He left this establishment at about 5:30 and crashed into an on-duty police department sergeant," HPD Assistant Chief Skelton told Click2Houston.
The club in question was not only associated with illicit activities but also presented significant safety hazards. As per inspection reports, the building was operating without a certificate of occupancy and lacked critical safety features, including a proper fire escape and compliant electrical systems. These violations were so egregious that they prompted HPD Capt. Watson to describe the club as a "death trap" during an interview, as reported by KHOU. He implied that the building was particularly hazardous stating, "Moreover, substandard electrical. Nothing in this place is up to code. It is a wonder nothing bad has happened thus far."
The raid on Underground Storage showcases the Houston Police Department's commitment to community safety and the enforcement of legal business operations. Assistant Chief James Skelton reaffirmed this stance, explaining to KHOU, "We are here tonight to make a stand for our community."
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