High number of Fury patron arrests reported

Newport Beach city officials will decide today whether to revoke the use permit for a popular sushi restaurant after undercover police officers reportedly observed patrons drinking and possibly using drugs in the parking lot of the restaurant.

Fury Rok & Rol Sushi Lounge, 4221 Dolphin Striker Way, is licensed as a restaurant, but a Newport Beach police investigation found evidence the establishment has been promoting itself as a night club, according to Newport Beach Planning Commission documents.

Police officers have reported a high number of arrests of Fury patrons in the area for driving under the influence, according to police reports to the planning commission.

Police have made more than 40 arrests directly related to Fury patrons between July 1, 2007, and Feb. 3 — accounting for more than 30% of arrests in the neighborhood around the restaurant during the same time period, according to the police report.

“Overall, the number of arrests is alarmingly high for one establishment and detrimental to the health, safety and public welfare of the community,” according to the police report.

A police investigation found Fury advertised dancing on the social networking website MySpace.com and also has used the services of nightclub promoters.

The sushi lounge is authorized to serve alcohol, but it would need a different permit to operate as a nightclub and make patrons pay a cover charge.

Undercover police officers who visited the restaurant in January overheard a man at the door of the establishment tell patrons there was a $20 cover charge to enter and then take money from the customers, according to the Planning Commission report.

“Fury is primarily a restaurant, but they are allowed to provide live entertainment and dancing,” attorney Stephen Jamieson said in February after he successfully lobbied the Planning Commission to have the hearing postponed.

The restaurant owners also agreed to step up security in the restaurant parking lot last month. “At this point, security is being increased and we’re looking forward to having a successful business,” Jamieson said.

The hearing will be conducted in front of a city-appointed hearing officer at 10:30 a.m. today in Newport Beach City Council Chambers, 3300 Newport Blvd.

BRIANNA BAILEY may be reached at (714) 966-4625 or at [email protected].