Scene Nightclub to Appeal City Sanctions

After a slew of complaints from neighbors and criminal activity inside Scene Nightclub, the city of St. Petersburg nuisance abatement board voted to shut down the business March 15.

The St. Petersburg Police Department sent a letter to the owners of Scene Feb. 28 notifying the business that it had suspended its extended hours permit, which allows a business to operate and sell alcohol past midnight.

Police Chief Chuck Harmon said he was suspending that permit because of sale of alcohol to minors. 

"This suspension means your establishment may not open after midnight at any time during the above reference thirty-day suspension period (no member of the public may be in your establishment after midnight)," Harmon wrote in a letter to owner Tarnika Coley. "Failure to comply with this suspension will lead to a revocation of the permit for one year." 

On April 18, Scene Nightclub will get a chance to appeal the city's decision.

Attorney Robert Love, representing Scene, filed an appeal two days after Harmon's letter.

"This appeal is directed towards the facts surround charges of presence of minors and the decision to suspend after hours permitting," Love wrote. 

Even if council sides with the nightclub, Scene may be on its way out. 

According to a report by the Tampa Bay Times, the property owners are actively trying to evict Scene due to criminal activity inside the club. Until then and despite the board's vote, Scene will continue to operate, the Times reported. 

"In December, the detective returned one night when the club was hosting a rap battle. He paid $200 for two oxycodone and 10 hydromorphone pills.

The marijuana smoke in the club was so thick, police said, that people across the street at Publix often complained they could smell it."

In February 2012, two men were shot inside Scene, according to St. Petersburg Police.

At the time of the February 2012 shooting, police said there were 800-1,000 people inside the club.

Police said that after the shooting, officers confiscated 27 grams of marijuana found in plain view at various locations inside of the club and said that a "strong odor of marijuana lingered in the air several hours after the shooting."

In May 2012, a man was charged with assaulting an 18-year-old female with a beer glass after she refused his advances, police said. 

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