EAST HAVEN, Conn. — An East Haven bar was shut down indefinitely after it had its liquor license suspended following a series of arrests that stemmed from a fight on the premises earlier this month.
The state's Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) has suspended Rumba Cafe's liquor permit and the cafe will be closed until further notice.
East Haven police responded around 1:40 a.m. Sunday to Rumba, on 679 Main St., to find a large crowd scattering away from the bar and with several fights taking place.
Police determined that a gun was fired at the ceiling. While there are apartments above the café, police did not find gunshot victims in the bar or the apartments. Two firearms found under a trash can nearby were determined to have been stolen from out of state.
Edwin Colon-Perez, 23, and Jose Rodriguez-Diaz, 25, both of New Haven, were arrested for their involvement, police said.
Colon-Perez was charged with reckless endangerment, carrying a pistol without a permit, breach of peace, and possession of a controlled substance. The bond was set to $50,000 and Colon-Perez is scheduled to appear in court on March 20.
Rodriguez-Diaz was charged with breach of peace and interfering with an officer. The bond was set to $5,000 and Rodriguez-Diaz is set to appear in court on March 20.
Police expect to file additional charges. Anyone with information on this incident is asked to call East Haven police at 203-468-3820.
“We are fortunate that nobody was seriously injured or killed as a result of the gunshots fired at Rumba Café last weekend,” said DCP Commissioner Bryan T. Cafferelli. “It is clear this establishment is operated in a way that poses a serious risk to the community, that could eventually result in a serious injury or death. Our permittees have a responsibility to protect public health and safety, and Rumba Café is unable to maintain its commitment to that responsibility. Thank you to the East Haven Police Department for their ongoing work to address issues at this establishment.”
This is not the first time Rumba Café has had police respond to the bar.
The East Haven Police Department's letter to the DCP lists nearly two dozen instances where police were called to the bar for reports of fights or shots fired. Police were called at least six times in 2023, at least six times in 2022, and at least 11 times in 2021.
Rumba Cafe was also at the center of a shooting in its parking lot in November 2021, and a shootout the month before.
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