WARREN Fight spurs meeting talk

The club's owner has hired private security to patrol the parking lot.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Mayor Michael J. O'Brien wants to schedule a meeting next week to discuss problems at a U.S. Route 422 nightclub after a weekend fight injured several people.
Lashawn Ziegler, owner of 77 Soul, said he's open to a meeting and wonders why one hasn't been scheduled earlier.
O'Brien said the meeting would likely involve himself, Ziegler and police and law department representatives.
"I'm concerned about the safety of the residents of the city, and I'm gathering all of the information from the police department," O'Brien said.
Ziegler has hired workers from an Akron security firm to patrol the club's parking lot, but they don't carry guns and can't arrest people.
"It's hard to hold someone against their will until police arrive," he said.
Wants police there
He wants a police presence to lessen the likelihood of problems occurring.
"I want to understand why the Warren Police Department can't be hired to work there," Ziegler said.
Both the city police and sheriff's departments have said that their insurance policies prohibit officers from working even off-duty at establishments that serve liquor.
Ziegler questions that, saying he's seen police officers working in places that serve alcohol.
O'Brien also said he doesn't want police officers working at the club.
Police have been called to the club, which opened in summer 2002, many times on reports of fights.
The latest landed people in the hospital.
Florence Rivers, 22, of Peace Street received 27 stitches in her face and another five in her arm. She said she had just arrived at 77 Soul, where she goes regularly, along with her cousin to celebrate the cousin's birthday.
They weren't looking for trouble, she said. They just wanted to have good time.
They were dancing when she accidentally bumped into another girl and apologized.
The other girl pushed her in the face and the two started fighting. Then a third girl, who she told police was Brittney Pegram of Youngstown, hit her in the face with a bottle.
Fight continued
The girls were separated by club security, but the fight continued outside with others joining in the scuffle. Rivers said the girl who initially pushed her in the face was wielding a knife, and she believes she's the one who stabbed Pegram in the back during the fight and also who stabbed her in the arm. Pegram was treated at St. Elizabeth Health Center.The police investigation is continuing.
Ziegler about 200 people were in the club that night, which is about average.
"What can I do if someone wants to hit someone with a bottle except serve everything in plastic cups?" he said.
denise.dick@vindy.com