In broad daylight, there's no sign of Club Fusion, the teen club that inhabits a portion of the Riverfront Antique Mall on Jefferson Davis Highway.
No signs herald the club's presence. During daylight hours, the shopping center looks exactly like what it is: a parking lot and a large antique mall.
On Friday and Saturday nights, however, the area takes on a new life, and law enforcement entities are not happy about it.
Nearly every weekend, North Augusta Public Safety officers and the Aiken County Sheriff's Office are called to handle disorder at the teen club. In many cases, the disturbances have the potential to turn violent.
"We are weekly having a large crowd over there, with shots-fired calls, fights, car break ins (and) weapons violations," said Aiken County Sheriff Michael Hunt.
In the five months since the club opened, North Augusta Public Safety has recorded 28 separate incidents, most of which have occurred in the parking lot.
"The volume of people is a problem," said Lt. Tim Pearson, North Augusta Public Safety spokesman.
He estimated between 200 and 300 people ages 16 and older attend the club each night.
When officers do arrive in response to a call, the crowd disperses quickly.
A call to break up a fight Oct. 18 led to more than 300 cars attempting to leave the parking lot at one time, according to an incident report.
Cars were speeding through the lot, making improper U-turns and driving in the wrong lane in an attempt to hastily leave the premises.
Then officers heard gunshots coming from the area near Greg's Gas Plus on U.S. Highway 1.
There were no injuries and no arrests in the incident, because officers were unable to determine who fired shots, Pearson said.
Weapons have been involved in at least six incidents, according to police reports obtained by North Augusta Today .
"It puts officers in a situation where the potential is great for violence," said North Augusta Police Chief John Thomas.
Often, incidents that originate at the club spill over into other areas of the county.
Thomas and Hunt said they are working together to try to find a solution. But the first line of defense against crime should be the owner, they said.
When club owners do not make an effort to control their clientele, the burden falls to the city and the county and ties up their resources, Hunt said.
"We're not going to keep tolerating this conduct spilling over," he said. "We're just not going to keep doing it."
Reach Lisa Kaylor at lisa.kaylor@northaugustatoday.com.
CLUB FUSION SERVICE CALLS
May 10 through Oct. 18, 2009
Disorders 5
Trespassing after notice 1
Larceny of motor vehicle 2
Assist other authority 3
Breaking into motor vehicle 2
Simple assault and battery 3
Simple possession of marijuana 1
Unlawful carrying of a pistol 1
Vandalism 2
Suspicious activity/person 2
Confiscated firearms 1
Violation of noise ordinance 1
Weapons offense 1
Discharging firearm 3
Total 28
Total arrests made 8
Medical calls 1
Source: Lt. Tim Pearson, North Augusta Department of Public Safety
