A video circulating on social media showed Williams surrounded by agents in law enforcement vests either late Friday night or early Saturday.<\/p>\n
The Orlando Police Department said it assisted ABT during the joint operation. OPD said ABT was the lead agency on the investigation and enforcement related to possible alcohol licensing violations.<\/p>\n
As part of the operation, OPD said ABT undercover agents conducted investigative purchases and inspections at both establishments.<\/p>\n
Police said OPD provided operational support and transported Williams to the Orange County Jail.<\/p>\n
OPD also confirmed that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement later placed an immigration detainer on Williams because he had an expired visa.<\/p>\n
News of the arrest spread quickly on social media, with many fans of Williams and his businesses referring to the operation as an \u201cICE raid\u201d because of the immigration hold.<\/p>\n
Officials, however, said the operation was led by ABT and centered on alcohol licensing violations.<\/p>\n
Uncle Lou\u2019s is well known across Orlando\u2019s music scene for giving up-and-coming artists a place to perform. Artists said Williams did not have a formal policy for booking shows. If a date was available and someone asked to play, he would often let them.<\/p>\n
Some musicians described playing at Uncle Lou\u2019s as a \u201crite of passage\u201d in Orlando.<\/p>\n
\u201cI started screaming and cussing at the sky,\u201d said Sarah Patricia, a member of the band Von Nacht, which was scheduled to play at Uncle Lou\u2019s on Saturday evening. \u201cHe has watched me go from a little party monster, teenage punk rocker to a pretty successful musician. Every single time I come back to Orlando, I try to stop by there, give him a hug, see how he\u2019s doing, make sure the business is doing okay.\u201d<\/p>\n
Friends said Williams is also known for helping people experiencing homelessness near his property and finding ways to employ them.<\/p>\n
They said Williams has two adult daughters in the United States and is an active member of his local church.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of the most selfless people I\u2019ve ever met,\u201d Jessie Parrish said. \u201cHe shows up for people consistently, without asking for any recognition. He spent decades creating a place where people from every walk of life could easily be accepted.\u201d<\/p>\n
Court records show Williams previously pleaded guilty in drug-related cases from 1998, 2002 and 2011. Those cases are not connected to the current alcohol investigation. Channel 9 has asked ICE whether Williams\u2019 prior record played any role in the immigration detainer.<\/p>\n
A GoFundMe created in support of Williams<\/a> had raised nearly $30,000 as of publication.<\/p>\n Click here<\/a> to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here<\/a> to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.<\/p>\n