Nearly All Providence Police Called to Break Up Fighting Outside Club — Officer Hospitalized

Nearly All Providence Police Called to Break Up Fighting Outside Club — Officer Hospitalized

Nearly all Providence police units were called to respond to a large-scale disturbance outside a club in the city early Friday morning, GoLocal has learned. 

According to police, multiple arrests were made outside Mezzo Lounge on Charles Street, with at least one altercation having reportedly started inside the club before spilling into the parking lot. 

Police say there was a report of an underage patron being served alcohol, and that a Providence Police officer was hospitalized for injuries breaking up what police say was a hostile crowd of hundreds. 

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The club is going before the Board of Licenses on Friday. 

 

About Incident 

Police say that shortly before 2 AM on Friday morning, police officers on detail tried to disperse a large group of individuals loitering — and drinking — in the Walmart parking lot adjacent to Mezzo on Silver Spring Street.

Police said that their commands were ignored and people were “screaming profanities” and throwing debris at police. 

Then, police said Mezzo security detail escorted a male individual out of the club — with a crowd of over 50 people yelling and screaming at him; witnesses told police he had been assaulting females inside the club. 

Police said the crowd continued to interfere as police attempted to escort the suspect to a police vehicle.

Due to officer safety concerns, seven surrounding Providence Police districts along with the downtown detail were called in to assist with dispersing the crowd of more than 200 at that point. 

Police say another disturbance broke out in the Wendy’s parking lot with one female suspect throwing closed-fist punches. Officers said they encountered another large, uncooperative crowd at the location. 

According to police, officers made multiple arrests at the scene, and one patrolwoman was treated at Roger Williams Hospital for injuries. 

A 16-year-old — who told police she had been served alcohol inside the club — was taken to Hasbro Children’s Hospital.