West Hartford Police said that three people were charged after a disturbance early Friday morning outside Los Imperios at 904 Farmington Ave. in West Hartford, and according to police the establishment will be required to hire private duty police detail as of Saturday.

By Ronni Newton

West Hartford Police have charged a security guard and two patrons after a verbal confrontation turned physical outside Los Imperios on Farmington Avenue just after 12:30 a.m. Friday.

Police said that they received a 911 call from the sister of a woman who had been trying to get back into Los Imperios, which had already closed, to retrieve her credit card that had been left to pay a tab. Police learned of the incident only because of that call, not from Los Imperios management, they said.

According to a police report, the patron, Esmeralda Crespo, 25, of Bristol, attempted to run back inside past the security guard, while screaming “my card.”

She was stopped at the door by Los Imperios security guard, Maribel Rodriguez, 39, of Hartford.

Reports to police from both parties differ, but Crespo said that Rodriquez was “aggressive in Esmerelda’s personal space,” and swore at her, while Rodriguez said that she tried to reason with Crespo until Crespo “flicked” her in the face. Rodriguez admitted that at that point she “mushed” Crespo’s face.

Crespo’s sister, Marisol Crespo, 20, also of Bristol, got involved. According to another Los Imperios security guard’s report to police, Marisol Crespo pulled Rodriguez’s hair and took several swings at her after she saw Rodriguez “uppercut” Esmerelda Crispo.

The second security guard told police that Esmerelda Crespo “entered the business in an aggressive manner” and that the two “started to push and swing at each other.”

Police met with Los Imperios owner Ernesto Leon, and Det. Robert Magao was given the opportunity to review footage of surveillance video. However, due to the lighting, the poor quality of the video, and the fact that the DVR kept skipping ahead, police said the specifics of how the incident began could not be determined.

Esmerelda Crespo sustained a cut to the inside of her lip, police said. She also told police in a statement after the incident that her nose began to swell.

All three were charged with second-degree breach of peace and will appear in court on May 31.

According to police, the disturbance is being reviewed to determine whether or not it constitutes another violation under West Hartford’s entertainment ordinance. Police also said that the report of this incident will be forwarded to the State of Connecticut Liquor Control Commission.

West Hartford Police Chief Tracey Gove had written to Leon on May 22, and in that letter stated that unless Los Imperios presented evidence “that you believe is relevant to the decision of whether to order a private duty police detail” within five business days, then beginning Saturday, May 27, the detail will be required, at a cost to Los Imperios of $1,362 per night, paid in advance by cash or check, on any night that the establishment has a DJ.

Asst. Chief Robert McCue said that as of Friday morning, there had not been a response to that letter from Los Imperios. “As such they will be required to hire starting this Saturday,” McCue said.

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