LA cops attend a 'raucous, mask-optional party' inside a closed Hollywood bar - on the same day California surpasses more than 500,000 coronavirus cases
- The Friday night gathering at Sassafras Saloon was organized for 100 to 150 members of law enforcement, a source told CNN
- Video showed how revelers failed to practice social distancing inside the venue and entered without masks
- The bar has been closed since March 15 but guests went in via the side entrance
- Attendees simply had to state their name and claim they have 'no temperature' to get inside
- 'The bass was so loud it rattled the building,' Knock LA reported. Adding that songs such as LMFAO's 'Shots' could be heard from the street
- Several men confirmed they were attending an LASD function but the Sheriff's Office said they had no knowledge of it
- Los Angeles County Department of Public Health said it was investigating as California battles the highest number of coronavirus cases in the US
Dozens of cops from the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department are believed to have attended a secret party at a Hollywood bar despite the state of California surpassing more than 500,000 cases of coronavirus last week.
The Friday night gathering at Sassafras Saloon was organized for 100 to 150 members of law enforcement, a source told CNN.
Video from Knock LA showed how revelers 'threw a raucous, mask-optional party' at the North Vine Street.
'The bass was so loud it rattled the building,' according to the report. 'Songs such as Valentín Elizalde's 'Como Me Duele' and LMFAO's 'Shots' could be heard from the street.'
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The Friday night gathering at Sassafras Saloon (pictured) was organized for 100 to 150 members of law enforcement, a source told CNN. Video showed how revelers failed to practice social distancing inside the venue
'Several men we believe to be deputies identified themselves by name and verbally confirmed they were attending an LASD function,' Knock LA said
Footage shows numerous men arriving at the bar – which has been closed since March 15 – and walk in through the side entrance.
A clip reveals how they simply gained entry by following the advice of a worker at the door to state their name and claim they have 'no temperature.' However temperature checks did not appear to be carried out to ensure attendees didn't have a fever.
It's unclear what the occasion was but CNN reported that Lisa Strangis, a spokeswoman for 1933 Group, said it was to 'honor a group of first responders.'
Knock LA reported that a chalk board next to the side entrance read 'Happy Birthday.'
'Several men we believe to be deputies identified themselves by name and verbally confirmed they were attending an LASD function,' Knock LA said in a caption for one video recorded after they were tipped off about the event.
Despite video showing a party clearly taking place inside the venue, which faces out to Hollywood's popular Vine Street, LASD said they were not aware of it.
'The bass was so loud it rattled the building,' Knock LA reported. Adding that songs such as LMFAO's 'Shots' could be heard from the street
Party-goers entered without masks simply by stating they didn't have a temperature
Despite video showing a party clearly taking place inside the venue, which faces out to Hollywood's popular Vine Street, LASD said they were not aware of it.
LASD wrote in a Facebook post on Sunday: 'The persons identified in the video are not employees of the Sheriff's Department and this event was not hosted by the LASD.
'As soon as we became aware of allegations of deputies attending a party in violation of health orders, we initiated an inquiry in an attempt to validate the information or misinformation. If further details are discovered and action is warranted, we will take appropriate administrative action.'
The bar's high-wattage sign remained off throughout the night.
With California breaking grim COVID-19 records, 'gatherings of people who are not part of a single household or living unit are prohibited within the County of Los Angeles Public Health jurisdiction.'
Bars, nightclubs and lounges are also among the 'higher-risk' businesses ordered closed by the Health Officer as they are places where more frequent and prolonged person-to-person contact is likely to take place.
Establishments that serve food with alcoholic beverages are allowed to host outdoor dining.
'California currently allows restaurants and bars with full kitchens to allow patio service,' the bar's spokesperson said. 'Sassafras is a restaurant and bar with a full kitchen so we are eligible to operate under those conditions.'
The bar's spokesperson declined to identify the party's host to CNN and denied 100 people were in attendance but wouldn't say how many were inside.
She called it a 'wonderful way to celebrate first responders.'
LASD wrote in a Facebook post on Sunday: 'The persons identified in the video are not employees of the Sheriff's Department and this event was not hosted by the LASD
A spokesperson for Sassafras called the gathering a 'wonderful way to celebrate first responders'
'It's manageable with that size that we're comfortable with, given the premise of the conversation presented to the owners,' Strangis added. 'So they agreed to allow this at their venue.'
The bar's 1933 Group also owns Harlowe, The Thirsty Crow, Bigfoot West, Bigfoot Lodge, La Cuevita, and Oldfield's & Idle Hour.
One man claimed to CNN outside the bar that everybody was spaced out inside.
'Everybody's wearing things. Everybody's getting temperature checks,' the attendee said.
'Everybody is either family or works at the same place so that's why we don't have Covid concerns.
'They micro-group or whatever with each other and everyone's been tested and everything. That's why we all know that everyone in there is cool.'
As of Monday morning, 696 LASD personnel had tested positive for coronavirus and 3,112 had been listed as 'impacted'. Of the impacted people, 648 were currently quarantined, 33 were high risk and 2,431 had returned to work.
It comes as police in nearby West Hollywood have been issuing $300 violations for people caught without a mask.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health said it was investigating.
'We are investigating reports of a private indoor party and remind all businesses that have been ordered to close indoor operations that there are no exceptions,' the department stated. 'This is exactly the situation that puts our entire community at unnecessary risk.'
As of Monday there were 512,175 coronavirus cases in California and 9,398 confirmed deaths.
As of Monday there were 512,175 coronavirus cases in California and 9,398 confirmed deaths
A surge in coronavirus cases is especially concerning at the moment as a ban on evictions was expected to be lifted as soon as August 14, meaning more Americans could lose shelter while people have been told to isolate. Locals notice the homeless encampment near the bar had been dismantled the day before the party
The surge in coronavirus cases was especially worrying as a ban on evictions was expected to be lifted as soon as August 14, meaning more Americans could lose shelter as people have been told to isolate.
Some Twitter users pointed out that an encampment of homeless people outside the Saloon bar was cleared the day before the party.
'Conveniently, a *massive* homeless encampment that had been in front o #Sassafras for months (started when COVID hit) was just cleared up YESTERDAY. So. Convenient,' the Twitter user commented.
'Also the staff at Vine St Deli & La Numero Uno asked for help for months (this was essentially on their doorstep) and received nothing. Then out of the blue yesterday....'
The footage was taken by Ground Game which held a protest on Saturday at the Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs calling for the cancellation of rent and bringing awareness to the upcoming evictions.
The evictions are expected to be carried out by the Sheriffs Department.
'I used to stay right in the bar, I never got any notice, they woke me up at 7 a.m., and told me that I had 15 minutes to get out of there or they were gonna bulldoze my whole place, my whole structure,' one displaced person told Knock LA.
'They did it, they bulldozed the whole thing. And now they're having a party.
'The only encampments they destroyed were a few of them across the street, mine, and my neighbors right next door. And then one block up, they're fine. They didn't touch that at all. It's crazy.'
He continued: 'And that bar's been abandoned, and nobody's been there at all for two months. All of a sudden now tonight they're having a party, the day after they kicked me out. They were like, "yeah, they need this open now."'
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