Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Therapy, an Olneyville nightclub, has been ordered to double the size of its offduty police detail for the sake of security. The action by the city Board of Licenses comes in the aftermath of disturbances inside and outside Therapy on Jan. 31.

Therapy owner Alex Tomasso must hire four police officers rather than his previously required two officers and have them posted whenever he holds a Cape Verdean Night at his establishment, the board ordered Monday.

The first disturbance occurred at about 4 a.m. on Jan. 31, a Saturday, when a number of intoxicated people gathered outside the club, shouting profanities and refusing orders by the police that they leave. What was described by the police as "a large fight" began inside and then spilled out the front door. Officers used their department-issued chemical spray to disperse the crowd.

Later, at about 5 a.m., an unruly man was escorted from the establishment and another crowd gathered. The man was charged with disorderly conduct because, rather than leave as ordered, he violently gestured and cursed at officers, according to a police report.

Tomasso and his manager, Jeff Leclair, attended a board hearing Monday. Tomasso agreed to the facts alleged by the police, and Assistant City Solicitor Max Foster recommended that the detail be doubled.

Tomasso's company, Rainbow Time Inc., holds food, holiday and 1 a.m.-to-4 a.m. licenses for the club, at 7 Dike St.

 Tags  Olneyville Providence RI

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