Police: I.P. club sold alcohol to underage agents

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Employees of Warehouse 5, at 50 Waterfront Road in Island Park, were caught selling alcohol to underage undercover agents last week, Nassau County police said.

The Nassau County Police Department’s Bureau of Special Operations Unit conducted a State Liquor Authority check at the nightclub at 4 a.m. on July 29. The unit was there because of previous complaints that Warehouse 5 was selling drinks to underage people.

Undercover agents, all younger than 21, purchased alcohol from every bartender working at the club, according to police.

Owner John Vitale, 61, of Atlantic Beach, was arrested and charged with three counts of improper posting of a license, prohibited sale of alcoholic beverage, unlawful dealing with a child, three counts of failure to maintain books and disorderly licensed premise.

Another 15 employees were charged with prohibited sale of alcoholic beverage and unlawful dealing with a child. Those employees are Adam Adrohner, 29, of Bellmore; Jonathan W. Alvarez, 23, of Elmont; Melanie Arndt, 20, of Williston Park; Jessica Clemente, 21, of Lynbrook; Anthony M. Deluca, 23, of Levittown; Tyler Frusco, 20, of Lindenhurst; Danielle N. Grande, 19, of Massapequa; Joanne Larocca, 60, of Merrick; Haley Lee 19, of Shirley; Matthew McBride, 46, of Baldwin Harbor; Robert Ryan, 21, of Hempstead; Lisa Santoro, 23, of East Meadow; Michael Schlossman, 46, of Farmingdale; Katlyn M. Sellars, 18, of Islip; and Anthony Vitale, 22, of East Norwich.

All are to appear at First District Court, in Hempstead, on Aug. 12.

“I am deeply disturbed about the events that are alleged to have occurred this past Tuesday,” Vitale said in a statement. “Although I am not present at any of these nightclub events, I had employed what I believed to be a very experienced management and security team trained to prevent just this type of behavior. However, in light of what is alleged to have occurred, we have cancelled any further nightclub events.

”Throughout the years I have owned and operated many popular venues in Island Park,” Vitale continued. “Since Hurricane Sandy, I and my children have worked tirelessly and continuously to help revitalize this community.

“Throughout my 35 years in business, this is the first time in memory that one of my venues has been cited for serving alcohol to a minor. This is something that I simply won’t tolerate, and I trust my actions in ending these nightclub events speak even louder than my words.”

Warehouse 5 Inc. was also issued a stop-work order by the state Workers' Compensation Board, for failure to secure workers’ compensation coverage of $31,000. Vitale said he had been in touch with the board and straightened out that claim, paying a penalty of $11,727.90. Warehouse 5 reopened on July 31 as a catering hall, not a nightclub.

Barbra Rubin-Perry contributed to this story.