“If there is an operator operating with an improper c/o, then we go in and stop this before we have another murder,” said council member Jesse Moreno.
DALLAS — Recommendations to quell violence in Deep Ellum include requiring a Dallas Police officer be hired by clubs when they reach a certain level of occupancy and, that, as early as this weekend, they face city-mandated closure if they don’t have the proper permits.
The recommendations surfaced Monday at a meeting of the Dallas Public Safety Committee. Late Tuesday, May 5th, multiple people were shot in the 2900 block of Commerce Street. When officers arrived on the scene, they found five people with gunshot wounds. All five victims had non-life-threatening injuries, according to officials on scene. Three of the victims were taken to the hospital by Dallas Fire-Rescue; the other two by private vehicle, according to police.
While officers were at the Commerce Street scene, a separate shooting call came in down the street in the 2800 block of Elm Street.
According to police, the preliminary investigation found that the suspect, 23-year-old Detorius Tarver was involved in a “physical disturbance inside a business, and shot Joseph Gray, 26.” Gray was employed as a security guard and was attempting to break up the fight when he was shot, police say. Gray was transported to the hospital by a co-worker, where he died from his injuries, according to authorities.
Tarver was arrested on the scene and charged with murder.
Monday, in testimony to the Public Safety Committee, Dallas Police Chief Daniel Comeaux suggested adding a hired Dallas Police officer to some Deep Ellum clubs.
“Because we keep adding resource after resource and more and more manpower there that’s coming from our patrol,” Comeaux said while suggesting clubs be required to hire a Dallas officer if the clubs reach a certain level of customers. “And say hey, if you have over, and we come up with a magic number, you need to have someone from Dallas there. I think automatically that will start helping us control that area.”
It will be up to the Dallas City Council to take up that issue and come up with that “magic number” if they choose to go that route.
Meanwhile, committee vice chair and council member Jesse Moreno strongly suggested more strict enforcement of certificates of occupancy and other permits. Council member and committee chair Cara Mendelsohn urged the City Manager’s Office and Dominique Artis, Chief of Public Safety, to start that enhanced enforcement immediately.
“Other cities are shutting down water and putting chains on doors of operators who are not in compliance,” Moreno said. “And that’s all I’m asking for. Is that if there is an operator operating with an improper CO, that we go in and stop this before we have another murder.”
Last week, Deep Ellum Foundation Executive Director Stephanie Keller Hudiburg told WFAA that more security officers are patrolling Deep Ellum, but that further changes are still a good idea. She suggested that a new a new entertainment permit requirement for late‑night venues to set consistent safety standards across the district.
“We’re really looking to advance policy change including an entertainment permit, for areas like our across the city. This is a community that’s going to come together and it’s a community that’s creative and innovative and it’s going to tackle this just like we do everything that we do.”
In a statement posted to its Facebook, the restaurant said its fully cooperating with the Dallas Police Department and other law enforcement authorities and is temporarily shutting down while they investigate.