Prince George’s County police shut down a Temple Hills restaurant after one man was shot and three other victims were stabbed in a fight stemming from the restaurant. The Family Restaurant, on the 3400 block of Dallas Drive, is the second venue police have closed under its new “dance hall” bill, emergency legislation passed this summer that cracks down on clubs and dance halls with violent reputations.
The bill’s sponsor, Councilwoman Karen Toles, D-Suitland, said police had reason to believe there was nude dancing at the restaurant.
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“That’s unacceptable anywhere in these communities, especially if they don’t have the proper licenses to do so,” Toles said.
The Family Restaurant’s Facebook page features numerous pictures of dancing and DJs. Dancing in general is a clear violation of the restaurant’s permit, Toles said.
Police are still investigating the details of the case, according to Cpl. Evan Baxter, a police department spokesman.
The restaurant has been locked up since Friday afternoon.
The morning of the shooting, police found one male suffering from gunshot wounds outside the restaurant. Three others were later found with stab wounds, in an incident police say stemmed from a fight inside the restaurant.
All were treated for non-life-threatening injuries, according to police.
Two men were arrested and charged with one count each of first-degree assault: Eric Wykeith Palmer, 27, of the 2800 block of Langston Place SE in the District, and Maurice Anthony Corbin, 33, of the 1100 block of K St. SE.
Neither has posted bail.
Police also shut down MSG nightclub in Capitol Heights after a drive-by shooting Aug. 8 left one woman dead and another bystander shot with non-life-threatening injuries.
Venues shut down under the bill have the right to challenge the decision before a new appeals board established by Toles’ legislation.
Eric Pickens, owner of MSG, originally filed an appeal of the violation notice in August, but according to officials with the Department of Environmental Resources, the appeal hearing was continued indefinitely at his request.
No appeal has been filed on behalf of the Family Restaurant, officials said.
