Cops arrest 6 for COVID-19 emergency order violations — at a strip club and a hookah bar
Unpaid strippers and minors in a hookah bar were part of Miami-Dade police breaking up two social media-advertised weekend gatherings in North Miami-Dade.
Cops arrested three people at each place on charges of violating county COVID-19 emergency orders. A total of 48 people received civil citations.
Last week, the Instagram account joe_gunner 305 contained several advertisements for “Blow Money Fast Friday.” Those wanting to know where this was happening just had to send a DM (Direct Message) to the account user.
An arrest report says that’s 40-year-old North Miami resident Gerald Silvene, who appears in a Thursday post holding stacks of $1 bills.
The report says two Miami-Dade police units, the Crime Suppression Team and Crime Prevention Team, hung back outside the warehouse at 99 NW 166th St. and watched DJ equipment, balloons and alcohol get brought inside by Silvene and 31-year-old Redland resident Christopher Bentley. Bentley, police say, also patted down customers before they paid their cover charge.
After the 10 p.m. county curfew, cops entered to find, Miami-Dade police said, “a warehouse had been converted into a strip club, complete with a stage, stripper pole and bar.”
According to the arrest report, “A room was located on the southeast corner where nine to 10 females were undressing who spontaneously uttered, ‘We were only here to dance for the party and haven’t gotten paid yet.’”
Bernie Jadotte, 43 of North Miami Beach, claimed ownership of the equipment. Along with Silvene and Bentley, he got charged with misdemeanors of a public health and safety violation and violating a curfew. Civil citations left with 31 guests.
The Last Move at Lowkeys
Cops say they went to Lowkeys Hookah Lounge & Eats because that’s where 23-year-old Miami Gardens DJ Christopher Tate said via his Instagram account djbigchris305 that he’d be working a party called The Last Move, starting at 9 p.m. with a $10 admission.
The arrest reports say officers waited at Lowkeys, 14927 NW Seventh Ave., until they saw minors paying their way in after 10 p.m. Police say the doorman, 46-year-old Miami Gardens resident Joseph Stevens, had $850 cash on him and the business had more than 25 minors inside. Officers arrested Davie resident Anne Bordenave, 22, who state records list as Lowkeys’ manager.
Bordenave, Stevens and Tate each were charged with operating a banquet hall or similar in violation of a county emergency order and violating curfew. All minors were released to their parents and 17 civil citations were issued.
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