Violence at Poolies Billiards!

Just read an interesting piece of billiards-related news from Florida Today.com. It concerns about the police responding for a total of 22 times to Poolies Billiards on Palm Bay Road and 25 times to the Motel 6 on Malabar Road. And that was just in June 2008! And I kid you not! Talk about a one-of-a-kind news!

More of the story here:

Officers are called so frequently to several businesses, along with some residences, that Palm Bay Police Chief Bill Berger and City Manager Lee Feldman say they want the city's criminal hot spots to start paying up for excessive
responses.

"Certain locations -- businesses and residents -- are draining resources, to the point where you're continually having to send officers to that location," Berger said. "If they're monopolizing our services, they should be paying their fair share."

The Palm Bay City Council will vote Thursday night on a proposed "Chronic Nuisance Premises Ordinance," which would allow the police department to charge per call for anything above three calls a month. The fines include: $250 each for the fourth, fifth and sixth calls per address per month, and $500 for each call above six calls per month.

In addition, if the problems continue, the city could move to shut off water and sewer services to the property.

According to police, Motel 6 has become a drug haven in recent years. Calls in June included disturbances, security checks and a warrant arrest. Berger said an alleged bank robber was found hiding there.

Poolies Billiards had an armed robbery and traffic stops. The chief said people go to Poolies, get drunk, wind up in fights, and the police are called in to break them up.

"We're trying to work with them," Berger said, referring to both businesses.

Poolies officials did not return calls seeking comment Tuesday. Motel 6 officials could not be reached for comment.

At least two apartment complexes have more than their share of calls, including Madalyn Landing on West Malabar Road and Park Apartments near Brevard Community College's Palm Bay campus, police said. The city would charge individual units for multiple calls.

Berger said part of the issue is a tight budget. The 2008 police budget is about $20.2 million, which includes moving the code department under the police department's purview.

"We're going to have to do more and more with less," Berger said.

Feldman said police are being called every other night to some bars to break up fights, when the bar owners should hire their own security.

In addition, he said some parents are using the police to scare their children into getting out of bed and going to school.

"We need folks to take responsibility for their own actions," he said.

*More than 20 incidents in a month! Such will do give billiards a bad rep! Ban the troublemakers! Hire security personnel! And strictly enforce pool room guidelines aimed at curbing violence and related incidents!

"The AnitoKid hates violence!"

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