The fate of a local nightclub temporarily closed at the request of Lackawanna County District Attorney Brian Gallagher will be postponed for at least a week at the request of its owners.
Judge Michael Barrasse was scheduled to rule on permanent closure of Isla Paraiso restaurant Thursday. The business has been temporarily closed while Gallagher’s petition is pending.
At the request of attorney Curt Parkins, who represents the business and its owners, that decision is rescheduled to Sept. 10.
On Tuesday, Gallagher asked county court to close the place for good, saying it is a nuisance and a threat to the safety of the surrounding community.
The petition follows concerns from neighbors of the West Side business on South Main Avenue who have complained about the site’s nightclub events for the last two months.
When a gunshot woke neighborhood residents at 2 a.m. Sunday, nearby residents peered out their windows, both fearful and angry.
Tanya Howells remembers her heart pounding as she heard someone yell “Call 911.”
“It felt like a million hours had passed but the area was soon flooded with lights and sirens. Patrons attempted to run as officers worked to secure the scene,” she said.
She soon learned police were searching the neighborhood for a suspect, later identified as Yerry Martinez.
Police search area, find fleeing suspect
As part of their investigation, officers reviewed surveillance video which showed Martinez leaving the business at about 2:05 a.m. and getting into a Honda Accord, according to a criminal complaint.
The video then shows Martinez, 31, listed in the complaint as homeless, exiting the vehicle and walking through the parking lot with a suspicious item in hand.
A minute later, the video showed Martinez leaning against the vehicle and seemingly firing a shot into the air, with other people nearby, according to the complaint.
“A flash consistent with a muzzle flash was then observed coming from the object in Martinez’s raised hand as Martinez discharged the firearm,” police said.
Following the shot fired, security guard Enyer Turbi Sanchez confronted Martinez and wrestled him to the ground.
Sanchez searched Martinez but didn’t find a gun. Martinez broke free and ran.
Scranton police responding to the scene searched the area and spotted Martinez down the street from the business.
When officers approached Martinez, he fled into a nearby yard. With officers in pursuit, he fell to the ground and was arrested.
Officers didn’t find the gun Martinez allegedly used to fire the shot.
Police indicated they believed Martinez’s conduct placed others “in danger of death or serious bodily injury,” according to a criminal complaint.
Martinez remains in Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $100,000 bail.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on Sept. 11 before District Judge Alyce Farrell.
Howells hopes Sunday’s incident will ultimately result in the business being shuttered.
“I’ve talked to city council, the zoning office and pretty much anyone who would listen. They’ve all said ‘getting a nuisance establishment shut down takes a lot,’” she said. “Maybe this will be enough. I can only hope.”