CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte police officers have been making the rounds to ensure venues are safe before thousand head to the city for next week’s CIAA basketball tournament.
Channel 9 rode along as Detective Matt Lewis, of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, worked with the department's Alcoholic Beverage Control to check with Charlotte club and bar owners to make sure nightlife is under control.
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“We're looking for overserved patrons. We're looking for drug use on the premises,” Lewis said.
Lewis said one of the biggest problems is illegal parties, meaning clubs and bars that don’t have a valid permit or that sell alcohol after 2 a.m.
The CIAA Tournament attracts thousands into the heart of the city, which also brings in illegal parties, crime and violence.
“So what we're doing in these convenience stores is, we'll go to the beer case, make sure they’re selling the correct alcohol that they're permitted to sell,” Lewis said.
Lewis said he checks for invoices to make sure the alcohol is purchased legally.
Officials said places that don't have a permit don't follow the rules and haven’t been inspected.
The basketball tournament begins on Tuesday, and the tournament and events last through Saturday night.
Young Dolph, the rapper who dodged more than 100 bullets during CIAA weekend last year has scheduled a return trip to Charlotte next weekend.
Dolph was not hit by the gunfire on North Caldwell Street last year.
He has since released an album called "Bulletproof."
He’s booked to appear at an adult club off I-85 on March 2.
A woman who had one of those bullets fly into her apartment doesn't think his return is a good idea.
“The fact that he never apologized for what went on as an artist, and then to come back to the city, I think that's really bad,” Tangi Davis said.
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