A Jefferson police officer had to call for backup from other police departments early Sunday morning after he was surrounded by a group of fighting males in the parking lot of a restaurant.
The officer was on foot in the parking lot of Harry and Fernando’s restaurant, the old “Bruce’s” on Hwy. 129 in Jefferson, when he was surrounded by 60 or more people with several men fighting.
The officer attempted to break up the fight and ended up “in the middle of these males fighting with me and each other.” He unholstered his service weapon and yelled for the crowd to clear the space around him.
Another officer from Jefferson was called to the scene and reported 250 people being in the parking lot. Back up officers from Commerce and Braselton police departments and Jackson County Sheriff’s Office were also called to help control the crowd. It took officers 20 minutes to clear the scene.
After the fight was cleared, officers were called to Scad Oaks Apartments in reference to men, possible the same ones from the business, fighting. When officers arrived at the apartment, many of the men ran from the scene. The property owner also arrived and assisted police in asking residents of the apartments to go inside their homes and others to leave the property.
No one was arrested in either incident, and no injuries were reported.
Since the establishment opened there has been an ongoing, weekly issue with thumping, booming bass emtiing from the business and the nonstop flow of vehicles in the parking lot which goes on until two a.m. every weekend! We have witnessed no less than 30 instances of both male and females urinating in public, mostly on MY property! We have observed numerous instances of what appeared to be both crack and marijuana usage and many apparent drug transactions. We have observed apparent acts of prostitution and sex acts in vehicles and openly in the parking lot. We have had drug suspects chased by JPD officers across our property. And this was not the first act of violence at the establishment. JPD officers responded to an affray in the parking lot just a few weeks back. We have a ten year old son who is kept awake by the noise and now we fear that the next act of violence will involve gun play. Also; the JPD officers who actually do patrol the business do so on their OWN initiative and NOT at the direction of ANY of their "superior" officers.
There is more than just what's going on within the walls. Wouldn't it be a wise idea if people paying to get into this establishment NOT be allowed to walk out? But, then again, looks like all the security just hangs at the front door!