A troubled downtown
nightclub that has been under scrutiny by the city is facing a
new investigation after Ann Arbor police said officers found a
17-year-old girl passed out in a booth surrounded by three men
early New Year's day.
Officers were called
to Studio 4 at 314 S. Fourth Ave. at about 2 a.m. Tuesday by
nightclub employees who saw the men standing around the
incapacitated teen, said Detective Sgt. Jeff Connelly.
One of the men
was standing in front of the girl with his pants pulled slightly
down, another stood in front of the booth facing the bar while
talking on a cell phone and the third was sitting on the
opposite side of the booth holding his head with his hands,
police reports said.
The men were confronted by employees who saw the girl, later
identified as 17-year-old Pittsfield Township resident, passed
out with vomit on her clothing, Connelly said.
Officers observed
the girl and made contact with the men but made no arrests.
Connelly would not disclose further details, other than that the
girl was at the bar with a girlfriend, also a minor, who left
earlier in a cab.
"We're still
investigating the incident and are also looking at the bar for
any violations that could have contributed to this," Connelly
said.
The teen was
transported by Huron Valley Ambulance to the University of
Michigan Medical Center and admitted for observation due to her
intoxicated state, Connelly said. She was discharged later that
day.
The nightclub
came under scrutiny from city leaders last summer after police
responded to a series of complaints there, including a brawl
reportedly involving 200 people.
Management said
they would tighten security and require anyone age 18 to 21 to
have a University of Michigan identification card to enter.
City Attorney
Stephen Postema, who considered declaring the club a public
nuisance over the summer, acknowledged the bar implemented the
changes but said this morning he was concerned about the recent
incident and would review the police report later today.
A phone message
left at the club by a reporter was not returned this morning.
The manager of a
downtown Ann Arbor nightclub where police found a 17-year-old
girl passed out in a booth early New Year's Day said he expects
repercussions from the city but insists no one knew the girl was
a teenager and that the staff acted for her safety.
Jeff
Mangray, who was working when Ann Arbor police were called by
Studio 4
nightclub staff at about 2 a.m. Tuesday morning, insisted the
New Year's Eve event was for people 21 and over only.
He said he and
other staff who confronted three men who were surrounding the
girl in the booth were shocked when police found identification
indicating she was really 17.
"We were amazed
that she was underage and would never have allowed her in. She
must have used a fake I.D.," Mangray said.
Police said they
are investigating the incident as well as the nightclub's
security procedures that night. The city nearly declared the
club a public nuisance over the summer after a series of
incidents in which police were called in, including a fight
involving an estimated 200 people.
Mangray said they
have since tightened security and only allow underage patrons
(18-20) entry with a University of Michigan identification card
and they are not allowed to drink alcohol.
That was not the
case for the New Year's Eve event, which was for people of legal
drinking age only, he said.
"We do everything
we can to comply with the law but unfortunately we have
vigilantes out there who try to break it," said Mangray, adding
that at least 6 women were turned away by employees for being
underage.
Mangray also
emphasized that it was the added security that noticed the
unusual situation in the booth, located in a dark corner of the
club.
Police reports
said one of the men stood in front of the girl with his pants
pulled slightly down, another stood in front of the booth facing
the bar while talking on a cell phone and the third was sitting
on the opposite side of the booth holding his head with his
hands.
The men were confronted by employees who saw the girl, later
identified as a 17-year-old Pittsfield Township resident, passed
out with vomit on her clothing, said Detective Sgt. Jeff
Connelly.
"We were trying
to do a good thing and we're getting into trouble," Mangray
said. "If we knew she was under 21 why would we call the police
to investigate? It would be foolish to do that."
City Attorney
Stephen Postema said he read the police report Thursday but
declined further comment.
