Easter chaos at Good Time Emporium

By George P. Hassett

Hundreds of people, some with bats and knives, fought inside the children’s birthday party area at Good Time Emporium on Easter Sunday, according to police.

When Officer James McNally arrived at the scene, he said he saw a crowd of 150 to 200 people fighting, with “tables and chairs being thrown in every direction.”

“I observed people climbing tables and jumping on other people. I observed several out of control altercations. [Police officers] were running around trying to break up each new altercation that erupted,” McNally wrote in his incident report.

Within the large group, several smaller fights broke out, police said. After officers would break up one fight, other altercations would start nearby, police said.

“Tables were being knocked over, chairs were being tossed and people were running across tables to get at one another,” wrote Officer James Slattery in his report. “One of the [Good Time Emporium] staff members pulled an aluminum baseball bat out of someone's hand who had climbed on top of a table.”

Officers from the State Police, Somerville Housing Authority and Tufts University were
also called to the “extremely chaotic and dangerous” scene, police said.

It is unclear how the brawl began. In his report, Slattery said he was dealing with an unruly group of teenagers when he saw dozens of people running towards the arcades. A crowd of 100 people had formed and began to push and shove each other, he said.

Three people were arrested in connection with the melee. Reade Armstrong, 18, of Roslindale, allegedly struggled with two police officers and a Good Time employee until he was hit with a burst of pepper spray and arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

Kwmaine Davis, 17, of Dorchester, allegedly refused to leave the parking lot after the scuffle and fought with officers trying to arrest him. He was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

In the midst of the brawl, Regina Hunter, 17, of Randolph, allegedly threatened another female with a knife and fought violently with police trying to detain her. She was arrested and charged with resisting arrest, possession of a dangerous weapon and disorderly conduct. Police allegedly found a six-inch black pocket knife on Hunter.

As officers were handcuffing Hunter, a crowd of 50 to 75 people formed around them and began to threaten and harass them, McNally said. “[We] had to resort to swinging our expandable batons around to keep the crowd from physically coming at us.”

After the fracas, Good Time Emporium was closed down and the building was evacuated, police said.

Comments

[it *is* funny]

They should close this place down. It's a magnet for drugs and other kinds of crime. We don't need it in Somerville.

[Ron Newman]

When is this place closing? Isn't it being torn down soon for Ikea?

Natick will love it.

[Kate]

OMG, cheese'n'rice - I can't believe the insanity that goes on there so often.

[anyone surprised?]

so this broke out in the middle of the kids birthday party? especially nice. and the arrested were from cities and towns who wouldn't have this pit in their neighborhoods.
this place is a monument to drugs, gambling and violence. why wait for Ikea - tear it down right now.

[Ron Newman]

By the way, George -- good work with the scoop. I haven't seen this reported in any other newspaper yet.

[Only Three]

Only three arrested? Geez, I think they should have brought in vans and loaded them up with arrested people.

How much violence does this place have to host before it is closed down. The city should force them to hire many, many off duty officers for security every single day.

[Ron Newman]

I was wondering about that, too. All the other brawlers got away scot-free?

[Travis Ritch]

Sounds like a good time.

[Newman and Only Three]

Officer McNally is known to exaggerate his written Police reports to make every incident seem like the end of the world. That and he's also pissed that he didn't have the detail there. If you didn't know by now he is considered a "detail whore" and usually is the highest paid city worker year after year.

That being said Good Times has got to go. This place draws more scum from surronding cities and also from this city that it has become the most dangerous area in our city. But, of course, they are smart enough to "take care" of all if not most politicians fundraisers and parties and of course the occasional use of there facilities to youth sports.

[al p]

It is not closed.. BECAUSE THE MAYOR AND THE HEAD STAFF HAVE NO WERE ELSE FOR FREE DRINKS AND FOOD OR A FREE HALL OR KIDS BIRTHDAY PARTYS THAY ALLOW THE TROUBLE FOR THAT REASON...... GOOD LUCK

[Derek]

I'm supposed to believe there were 150-200 people involved in a "fight" on Easter Sunday and that no one heard about it until Tuesday morning? Wouldn't this classify as a riot? And wouldn't it be on the evening news? Wouldn't more than 3 people be arrested?

Has anyone talked to Good Times management or anyone who claims to have been there that's not associated with the police department?

I don't doubt that there was a fight, but I have a hard time believing 150-200 people were participating in a full scale riot that only resulted in three arrests and stayed mum for over 24 hours.

All that said, when is Good Times closing?

[kev]

I completely agree that they should close the doors NOW at Good Times. The place is nothing but trouble. I heard that they won't be moving to Natick when they do leave Somerville because a group of Natick politicians took a little trip to Somerville to see what might be coming to Natick and they walked out of there saying "NO WAY, NOT IN OUR TOWN".

[Larry Flezzer]

What is with allowing unsolicited fat phone books to be dropped off at my house every few months only to go right into the recycling bins?

How about we pass a law to stop this? Or are we too chicken?

[Ron Newman]

Last time I was here for a political event was the Somerville Democratic City Committee's annual holiday brunch, in December. We were not put in their closed-off room, and the staff refused to turn down the noise from all of the arcade games -- none of which were being used. Congressman Capuano gave a speech that we could barely hear, as there was no public-address system.

I'll be thrilled not to return there next December.

[Danny McLaughlin]

I found myself at Good times on Sunday night to use the batting cages for the up coming softball season. What I saw, I have never witnessed in my many years of going to good times. Just last week I attend a great fund raiser at Good times, sadly what I saw Sunday was anything but great. Although I couldn’t see much through the large crowd, it was a scary sight. I saw small children crying in their parent’s arms, people running from the scene, all types of people running to hide. I couldn’t believe my eye what a mad house this place had become. There was a police detail at Good times at the time, and if it wasn’t for him this scene could have been worse. The problem is that there was only one detail officer to control crowds in the hundreds. There needs to be more then one officer Good times on weekends. I was once a huge supporter of keeping good times in Somerville, and I have always appreciated all the support they have giving the community. After Sunday night and the chaos I am happy to see Good times go, it’s not the fun family place it should be. With the lose of Good times the city of Somerville will loose a homicide a year, Thank God

[joker]

city hall 3 HIGHLAND AVE 1 EVERGREEN 2 GOODTIMES 3

[Ron Newman]

Around what time of day did this happen, Danny? (The otherwise well-written article doesn't say.)

[M.]

Assembly Square is becoming a ghost town anyway, if the closing of a number of stores i. e. Macy's, Jordan Marsh, and the Loews Cinema, K-Mart and a number of other places is any indication. Maybe Good Times Emporium will eventually go, also.

[Ron Newman]

Last I saw, K-mart was open, and a number of other stores had joined it in the redeveloped strip mall. Good Time is supposed to be demolished to make room for Ikea.

[Joey]

150 to 200 people. Seriously. Seriously. Don't just take it from the cops.

[Ari]

Hilarity aside, will anyone fess up and place a comment here and say they were there at the melee?

[Somerville resident]

"and that no one heard about it until Tuesday morning" "And wouldn't it be on the evening news?"
Fox News had a "Breaking News" on their 10 O'Clock News.

[Somerville resident]

Oops! That "Breaking News" was on Sunday night's 10 O'Clock News.

[Officer McDetail strikes again!]

JM, aka Jimmy Tanner aka the detail whore is nothing but a bag of dog waste. I was there and it was only about 4 people fighting. The rest were watching and keeping their children safe. There was about 125 people on hand playing video games and having fun but they were not involved in this altercation. JM who I will refer to as Mcdetail always exaggerates in order to get more details. Goodtimes will remain open until September 25th. Mcdetail is hoping the city will make them put on a couple of extra details for the remaining time. Take it from someone who was there and someone who knows Mcdetail extremely well. It didn’t happen as he says. Just like when he slipped and fell on the ice. The little wimp pushed his officer in distress button causing a major accident from a responding officer and thousands of taxpayer dollars in damage.

To the good men & women in blue who serve our city with pride, Next time Mcdetail calls for help, don’t answer. He’s probably exaggerating again and if he’s not, let him get his ass whipped. He deserves it anyway!

[Linda]

Police should be allowed to shoot illegal aliens.

[Ron Newman]

That's a bizarrely random comment to post here, since there's no indication whatsoever that the rioters were non-citizens.

[SRA]

STOP- LOOK - LISTEN!!!

OK THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL "INCIDENTS" OUTSIDE

REPEAT OUTSIDE GOOD TIMES. THE PERSON WHO WAS

STABBED IN THE PARKING LOT AND THE DUMB BIMBO

DRIVES 20 MILES AWAY TO A HOSPITAL - THE POINT

IS THIS GT WAS CLOSED DOORS LOCKED INCIDENT

HAPPENED AT GRAYBAR AND THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD!

AND THE KID RUN OVER ASS. SQ DRIVE in front of

GOOD TIMES, NOT IN IT. OK SO YRS AGO NEW YRS

EVE A FEW WOMEN EXPOSED THEIR TA TAS., BIG DEAL.

DAN HAYES HAS GIVEN A LOT TO CHARITY AND GIVEN

FREE MEALS TO THOSE IN NEED - I'M SICK AND TIRED

OF THE ENDLESS BASHING THROUGH THE YEARS. PARENTS

HAVE BEEN IN THE LOUNGE WHILE KIDS ARE RUNNING

AROUND. BAD EXAMPLE OF PARENTS. CHILDREN OR

ANYONE UNDERAGE ARE NOT ALLOWED IN OR NEAR THE

BAR AREA. DON'T BLAME BAD PARENTING ON CLUB

STAFF.

THIS UNFORTUNATE INCIDENT REGRETFULLY DID HAPPEN

INSIDE AND ON A HOLIDAY. I'M SURE CLUB STAFF AND

POLICE GOT THE PROBLEM UNDER CONTROL QUICKLY

AND EFFICIENTLY.

GOOD TIMES IS CLOSING ONLY BECAUSE THEY CANT RENEW THEIR LEASE.

THE REASON FOR WRITING IN CAPITALS IS DUE TO

POOR VISION.

THANK YOU
SRA

[Goodtimes is a disaster!]

Goodtimes is a disaster! The owner has gotten real greedy over the last few years. The place is full of SECTION 8, white trash, gangs, filthy asians, and ghetto african americans. The employees consist of individuals who come from similar backgrounds. I respect the fact that the owner of goodtime's has contributed to the communinity on numerous occasions but the whole place is a farce! Kids and booze, DONT MIX! Shame on all those that host events their, especially the politicians and cops!

[Goodtimes is a disaster!]

Goodtimes is a disaster! The owner has gotten real greedy over the last few years. The place is full of SECTION 8, white trash, gangs, filthy asians, and ghetto african americans. The employees consist of individuals who come from similar backgrounds. I respect the fact that the owner of goodtime's has contributed to the communinity on numerous occasions but the whole place is a farce! Kids and booze, DONT MIX! Shame on all those that host events their, especially the politicians and cops!

[Mace]

How come these detail guys dont carry large industrial sized cans of mace or pepper spray or a few of those tear gas hand grenades. Those will soften a crowd real fast. Or they should have a way to activate the sprinklers in Goodtime which will also bring things under control in a hurry and not hurt anyone. Theres lots of ways to clear a building of unwanted patrons.

[Mungo]

Good Times! Oh wait. I was thinking of the 70s sitcom starring Jimmie Walker. Damn it! Yeah, that place sucks. I can't wait for IKEA! The traffic will suck, but it will be a better atmosphere than Good Times.

[sra]

a lot of seniors and disabled are on sec. 8 and

fed. housing - decent people. and poor. i am on

subsidized housing and worked from age 14 to 44.

are you calling i and others like us WHITE TRASH?

decent hard working folks with kids, grew up in

projects.... you'd better watch who you call

WHITE TRASH.....

i apologi;ze for capitalized rant - it seems

the whole thing was blown out of porportion....

just 4 people fighting..... cop exaggerates

a report like that, he shouldn't be a cop.

mysself, i never had any trouble there, i'll

say this - THE FOOD STINKS. if yuou want to cool

and want to catch a sox or a celtics game, not

bad. i love those big tv screens. i sit at those

tables by the batting cage. i always see the cop

there. doesnt do much - just sits there!!!!

i even play a few video games.

if a bunch of kids want to come in and look like

trouble just dont let them in.

[hold on]

hold on, i don't think anyone's saying elders or disabled people were duking it out here.

it must have been more than 4 people fighting to have made it to the news that night.

'if kids look like trouble, don't let them in'???
now, who's got the judgemental hat on?
read up on the constitution, pal. you don't get to decide who LOOKS LIKE TROUBLE. and deny them entrance.

[Yorktown Street]

Actually, a private club can do just that--as long as it doesn't discriminate against whole classes of people.

[Ron Newman]

But Good Time is not "a private club" in the sense that the Dilboy VFW or the Elks Club are.

[Hurt]

I was one of the people who actually got hurt. Some bastard slammed me on the head with a piece of wood or something. I needed several stitches and my head hurts like hell. I was an innocent bystander, I hate fights. I wonder if anybody else who got hurt will consider suing that place. At least to get them to pay medical bills. Thank you.

[Stan the Sloth Koty]

Good riddance Good Times. East Somerville has enough problems as it is.

[Stan the Sloth Koty]

Good riddance Good Times. East Somerville has enough problems as it is.

[Garbage]

Tear this dump down! The people who go here are all trash. I'm not a huge fan of Ikea but anything would be better than this crime magnet.

[Jimmy Tanner is a good guy!]

Jim Tanner is a great guy. Who really cares if he is a screamer as long as he continues doing a good job. His work is greatly appreciated in ward 2. I hope he slows down on the details for his own peace of mind. Maybe he gets overly frustrated because he actually does his job. I am sure he's not screaming at home.

[F.]

Jimmy Tanner is a joker, to think he is still a cop is even more of a joke.. Hmmmmm what does Jimbo do with all of his money he gets from sitting up against something looking pretty sad. It kills me to see him doing a detail and he can't even stand up without doing the lean. Is it me or is there are alot of cops who are not in good physical condition. The size of some of these guys is also a joke. I can't see half the cops in Somerville being able to run anyone down, as a matter of fact they couldn't run me down and I am pretty slow..

[SPD says whatt]

I'm just shocked that noone picked up that TUFTS University PD had to come and help SOMERVILLE PD with this! What the heck?

[You're all trash]

I don’t know which part is funnier.

The story, the comments, or that the “most widely read newspaper” in Somerville can’t afford it’s on domain hosting.

Btw my favorite comment:

Goodtimes is a disaster! The owner has gotten real greedy over the last few years. The place is full of SECTION 8, white trash, gangs, filthy asians, and ghetto african Americans.

Because if you’re calling them ghetto, you have to make sure you clarify that they’re AFRICAN AMERICANS.

I am so glad that I live in a rich white town. I can't wait to send this link to all my friends so that they can look at it on their phones while they drive cares that cost more than your houses.

[Ron Newman]

You may be richer than us, but at least we can spell 'its', 'own', and 'cars'.

[Matt]

The person tossing the word "scum" around so freely has much more than a touch of classism.

[aminata]

could you give the place of where good time is

[Closed]

Good times is closed, sadly.