Blu-Lounge.jpg

The scene captured on an investigators’ hidden camera at Blu Lounge.

Owner of alleged sex club surrenders ABC license

ARDEN — The owner of an Arden nightclub recently relinquished his permits to serve alcohol after investigators claimed they saw patrons openly engaged in sex acts on the premises.

Earlier last month, the state Alcohol Law Enforcement filed a notice of violation with the N.C. Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission concerning activities at the Blu Lounge off Glenn Bridge Road.

The filing followed the July 29 arrest of Aaron Gabriel Dean, 39, of Dundee Circle, Hendersonville, on two misdemeanor counts of allowing sex acts at an establishment licensed to serve alcohol.

The ABC Commission recently confirmed that Dean later requested the cancellation of his permits to serve alcohol.
While Dean could apply to the commission for new permits, the alleged violations at the business would be taken into account, ABC officials said. The commission reportedly does not plan to take action on the notice of the violation filed by ALE because there are now no permits to revoke.

Dean, whose telephone number listed for Blu Lounge has been disconnected, could not be reached for comment.
He has a court date on the charges scheduled for Dec. 15, according to court records.

Undercover ALE and Asheville police investigators witnessed people having sex during three trips to the club while Dean was present, according to the violation notice.

The probe was prompted by a complaint from a confidential source that Dean allowed patrons to engage in sex at the club on Saturday nights, a search warrant application stated.

The source, who provided video and photographs of condom wrappers scattered on the floor and people having sex on a couch, also said the events were advertised on a sexually oriented website.

Undercover investigators visited the club on June 13 and saw sexual activity in an upstairs area accessible to anyone inside the establishment, the application states.

They also saw Dean observe a variety of different sex acts, some involving multiple groups of people.

Investigators visited the Blu Lounge again on June 20 and heard Dean asking females to “bare their breasts.” One woman complied, investigators said.

Agents visited a third time on July 18 and again saw patrons engaged in sex acts, according to warrants.
The violation report noted that Dean denied to ALE agents that he had any knowledge of illegal activity at his business, but offered to submit his ABC permits for cancellation.

UNCA police report
rash of computer thefts

The UNC Asheville campus police recently noted the following incidents, including a rash of computer thefts:
• Mike Conley, who works for UNCA, reported the theft of a Macbook Pro computer from 117 Lipinsky Hall at 4:05 p.m. Nov. 23.

The computer, along with software, was valued at $1,700. The computer was last known secure at 1:30 p.m. Nov. 23.

• Kristen Brook Tabet, a student, reported the theft of her Hewlett-Packard computer at 3:45 p.m. Nov. 18. The location of the incident was blacked out on the police report.

The computer, along with software, was valued at $1,000. The computer was last known secure at 9 a.m. Nov. 18.

• Aaron Hamilton Parsons, a student, reported the theft of his Macbook Pro computer at 12:28 a.m. Nov. 8.
The computer, along with software, was valued at $1,200. The location of the incident was blacked out on the police report.

• Anthony Zazzarino, a student, reported the theft of $1,200 in cash and a small Sentry safe at 2:25 p.m. Nov. 10. The items were last known secure at 12:30 p.m. Nov. 10.

The safe was valued at $30. The location of the incident was blacked out on the police report.

• Ariana Jaren Scibilia, a student, reported the theft of Xanax and Adderall at 3:20 p.m. Nov. 10. The location of the incident was blacked out on the police report.

The Xanax was valued at $12 and the Adderall, $10. The items were last known secure at 3 p.m. Nov. 9.

• Joshua Kimball, Alyssa Belcher and Kimberly Howard were involved in what police described as “attempting to fight and pulling a knife” in a 10:57 p.m. Nov. 8 incident that is being investigated further.

Kimball was listed as the victim, and Belcher and Howard as “others involved.” The location of the incident was blacked out on the police report. No case disposition was listed. No other details were available.

• Gabrielle Rosemary Campiformio reported the theft of her Applie iPhone about 11:05 a.m. Nov. 11 from the Health & Fitness Center.

Her iPhone was valued at $200. It was last known secure at 4:30 a.m. Nov. 9.

• Kazimir James McMahon was charged with being less than 21 years old and possessing or consuming alcohol at 2:23 a.m. Nov. 14 at W.T. Weaver Boulevard. No other details were available in the case.

• Andrew Edward Walker, who works at UNCA, report the theft of musical instruments and three computers at 5:01 p.m. Nov. 1. The location of the incident was blacked out on the police report.

The property included Ibanex GEO musical instruments, valued at $200; an iPod Touch, $200; an iPod Video 80, $100; and an iPod Nano 4 GI, $60. The property was last known secure at noon Oct. 31.

• Amari Rickelle Clements, a student, reported vandalism to her 2009 Honda Civic at 9 p.m. Nov. 1 at the Ridges Parking Deck.

The report noted that the damage was done “by dripping from the upper level.”

The damage was valued at $100.

• Kathryn Grace Bennett, a student, reported the theft of her iPod and $10 in cash from her purse at 1:34 p.m. Nov. 3 at the Health & Fitness Center.

Her iPod Silver Classic was valued at $250. The property was last known secure at 6 p.m. Oct. 26.
• Shuo Zhang reported the theft of a bicycle at 11:12 a.m. Nov. 4 from the UNCA Bike Shop on Founders Drive.

The report noted that the crime was achieved “by taking a chained bicycle from a signpost.”

The bicycle, a Shwinn 24-speed, was valued at $500. The bicycle was last known secure at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 30.
• Zachary Michael Ziemba, a student, reported the theft of $250 in cash at 2:13 p.m. Nov. 7. The location of the incident was blacked out on the police report.

His cash, which police noted was removed from Ziemba’s wallet, was last known secure at 2:45 p.m. Nov. 4.

• William H. Bara, whose connection — if any — was not listed on the police report, was charged with two counts of drug violations at 12:28 a.m. Nov. 8. The location of the incident was blacked out on the police report.  The case was cleared by arrest and no other details were available on the report