Pubdate: Fri, 13 May 2005
Source: New York Post (NY)
Copyright: 2005 N.Y.P. Holdings, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.nypost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/296
Author: Carl Campanile

DRUGGIES' CLUB 'PASS'

The bouncers at the Sound Factory dance club were ordered to stop throwing 
drug dealers out of the club because it was hurting business, a former 
security guard claimed yesterday.

"We were instructed to slow down because we were pushing out too many 
people," said William Douglas.

"I was told we can't throw all the patrons out of the party because there 
would not be a party."

Douglas testified at the federal trial against Sound Factory owner Richard 
Grant and security aide Randell Rogiers. The defendants are charged with 
five counts of turning the cavernous Hell's Kitchen club into a drug den.

Douglas answered to Rogiers and director of security Ron Coffiel.

Douglas was employed by International Protective Services Agency. On the 
weekends, he and up to 25 of his employees provided security detail at the 
Sound Factory.

He said drug use was so prevalent that patrons blatantly asked bouncers if 
they sold drugs, or inquired about where they could get them.

Douglas said he regularly saw customers snorting drugs.

He said when people passed out or were unconscious from drug use, he and 
other bouncers were instructed not to call 911.

Instead, the sick patrons -- some of whom overdosed -- were sent to a small 
room where employees threw ice cubes down their back, pinched them or 
supplied them soda to sober them up, Douglas said.

Douglas complained that people he threw out of Sound Factory for drug 
dealing would be welcomed back in.

During direct questioning by Assistant Manhattan U.S. Attorney David 
Berardinelli, Douglas estimated 30 percent of customers -- mostly the 
"regulars" -- avoid strict searches when entering the club.

But during cross-examination, Douglas admitted Sound Factory maintained two 
logs containing the names of troublemakers who were tossed out of the club 
for drug use or other inappropriate behavior.
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MAP posted-by: Beth