WSVN — This is the scene we first found at Club Cinema: underage teens wearing next to nothing, drunk or high or both. Sick, and sometimes being rushed to the emergency room near death.
Victim's mother: "And they said, 'A little bit more and your son could have stopped breathing.'"
At the time of our first report, the club advertised it was open until 4 a.m. despite a city ordinance that calls for a 2 a.m. closing. Club owner Sam Frontera is a convicted felon who did time in the 90s for cocaine distribution. He told me his club wasn't the problem.
Sam Frontera: "First of all, the parents are responsible when they bring their kids out. The parents that are having problems with their own children coming out, and they're not paying attention to their children at nighttime."
But now Frontera has problems. He was recently arrested for resisting an officer, obstruction without violence and violation of a municipal/city ordinance. The arrest took place inside Club Cinema, when a show was starting, at the time the club should have been closing.
According to the Broward Sheriff's Office report, Frontera told officers to "get the (expletive) out of my club, get out." And he struggled when they tired to handcuff him. While being taken away, he "continued to yell obscenities" and threatened to "have our jobs."
Sandra King: "The City is very concerned, and in fact, we are doing everything in our power to make sure that 2 a.m. ordinance is followed to the letter of the law."
Carmel Cafiero: "Frontera was also arrested over the summer and again accused of resisting arrest. This time it happened here on Northeast 9th Street in Pompano Beach around midnight, and authorities say he tried to hide pot in his pants."
Police had stopped his car, and according to the BSO report, Frontera "proceeded to stuff the unknown object down the front of his pants, toward his crotch, while attempting to flee on foot." That unknown object turned out to be what authorities charge was five marijuana cigarettes.
After he was cuffed, the report reads Frontera said "five grams of weed ain't (expletive). I've been to prison for 200,000 kilos of cocaine."
Carmel Cafiero: "Mr. Frontera, Mr. Frontera."
His criminal record is something I tried to discuss with him in late 2011. He wasn't giving details, only this:
Sam Frontera: "If you know anything about my background, if you know anything about my background, then you would leave me alone."
Frontera could not be reached for this report. But he should know Pompano Beach is watching.
Sandra King: "And you will see the Broward Sheriff's Office at Club Cinema at every event at 2 a.m. to make sure they're closing."
Meanwhile, charges against 57-year-old Sam Frontera for his recent arrest are pending. He pled no contest and was fined for the marijuana incident.
Carmel Cafiero, 7News.
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