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Troubled Hampton Bays club facing shut-down after sting

VERA CHINESE FILE PHOTO | Pallbearers carry Carlo Petrusa's casket during his funeral.

The Hampton Bays club at which a Riverside man was shot to death during a dispute last year at a Halloween party is facing revocation of its liquor license after local authorities arrested six people and cited the club for fire code violations, Southampton Town Police said.

Police have responded to about 35 emergency calls to the Dream Nightclub at 17 Canal Road for reports ranging from excessive noise to sexual and physical assaults since last Nov. 1, when 64-year-old Carlo Petrusa, who served as a body guard to celebrities, was shot twice in a dispute that erupted over a costume contest.

He later died at Brookhaven Memorial Hospital.

The weekend’s arrests happened through an undercover operation during which two underage volunteers purchased alcohol in the club, police said.

Police arrested three bartenders in the sting, and then the club’s manager for interfering in the investigation.

The bartenders, Michele LaPerla, age 23, of Centereach, Diandra Alioto, age 22, of East Quogue and Caitlin McArdle, age 24, of Westhampton allegedly served drinks to minors, police said. They are all facing charges for unlawfully dealing with a child.

The manager, Stephen Vlahadamis, age 21, of Hampton Bays is facing a charge for obstructing governmental administration, official said.

The club’s owners will be facing administrative disciplinary proceedings through the State Liquor Authority and could lose their liquor license — essentially shutting the club down — and face fines or other penalties, police said.

The Southampton Fire Marshall also cited the club for several town code violations involving safety issues.