A Longueuil strip bar has once again been ordered to temporarily close its doors due to its popularity with organized crime and various acts of violence, including an alleged manslaughter.
• Read also: Altercation at the Vegas bar: a waitress accused of the homicide of a septuagenarian
• Read also: Shooting, fights, “subjects of interest” for the police: bar license of the Sauvage restaurant suspended for 18 days
• Read also: 50 police interventions in three years and $10,000 fine for this “trash” bar at DIX30
• Read also: Bikers, drugs and violence: hefty fine of $38,000 for a Gatineau strip bar
“Indeed, allowing the presence of this type of clientele is likely to harm public peace and security, given the illicit activities in which these people engage,” argues administrative judge France Thériault in a recent decision.
The Régie des alcools des courses et des jeux has ordered that no customer set foot in the Le Vegas bar during the 10-day suspension of their bar license.
This same sanction was imposed in 2017 for a series of disturbing altercations (see box).
This time, the Longueuil Agglomeration Police Service (SPAL) has identified no less than 51 breaches between August 2021 and February 2023, in the establishment which prides itself on its website of offering a “glamorous atmosphere “.
Death in the parking lot
They concern nearly ten offenses relating to drugs, excessive consumption of alcohol and acts of violence.
The death of Pierre Landry, 70, in the bar parking lot in June 2022 constitutes the biggest slip-up. Ariane Desgroseillers-Lafrance, a waitress, allegedly punched him because she feared for his safety.
The man’s head reportedly hit a wall before he fell to the ground. The 33-year-old woman, previously imprisoned for importing cocaine, still faces a charge of manslaughter.
Ariane Desgroseillers-Lafrance, seen in a photo at the time she was arrested for coke trafficking.
Archive photo
Among the other situations listed, there was notably a fight involving more or less ten people.
One of the police interventions in connection with this case “concluded with the arrest of a man, in an advanced state of intoxication, for assault, assault against a police officer, obstruction and breach of condition,” writes the judge Thériault.
The Régie also notes that on one occasion, a waitress was possibly drugged with GHB, which led to the arrest of a customer.
The Hells visiting
Alongside these excesses, the police noted the presence of people linked to organized crime 43 times.
Some of these individuals were linked to the Hells Angels and its affiliate clubs, such as the Demons Choice and the Devils Ghost.
On five occasions, the police observed customers wearing jewelry, necklaces or even clothing displaying their links to biker gangs.
Which led, among other things, to the first closure
- August 19, 2013: a criminal points a gun in a customer’s face to steal his gold chain;
- March 1, 2014: six shots are fired, and a man is shot twice by mistake;
- May 18, 2015: the driver of a dancer is unconscious after being the target of several attackers, armed with an ax and a baseball bat;
- January 9, 2016: a man is stabbed in his vehicle in the parking lot;
- The establishment was frequented by organized crime.
People associated with street gangs were also seen twelve times by law enforcement.
The owner of the bar, Richard Labelle, who will have to pay a fine of $8,000 in addition to the suspension of his bar license, assured the Régie that “these people represent a negligible number of his clientele.”
Several commitments
Mr. Labelle nevertheless committed to following several initiatives to strengthen the security of the premises.
For example, he will ensure that “any person wanting to access the establishment who wears clothing or distinctive signs showing allegiance to a criminalized group” is excluded.
All employees will also undergo training to prevent cases of excessive intoxication. Non-alcoholic drinks will also be offered.