BEAUMONT, Texas — It was a busy crime filled weekend at Beaumont bars and lounges with two separate incidents occurring on Saturday within hours of each other.
Police say one man was arrested for trying to take an off duty Beaumont Independent School District officer's gun on outside Fuma Dubai Lounge and Grill. Then hours later at Little Woodrow's, one man was shot in the parking lot.
Safety surrounding nightclubs in the city is a concern. Councilman Mike Getz says he's been helping to make nighttime entertainment safer.
Getz says he want young people to stay in Beaumont, so making sure these places are safe is a priority.
"I don't go out anymore, it's not fun, I don't feel safe, I don't relax," said Linnette Hammond, a Beaumont resident.
Hammond says nowadays she worries about her son going out for a good time.
"That's even dangerous you can't take your kids on dates. Or take them out., have fun at night because everybody, they get crazy," Hammond said.
Early Saturday morning just after midnight, police say a large fight broke out in the parking lot of Fuma Dubai. An off duty BISD officer was working security and tried to use pepper spray to break it up. In the middle of the fight 23-year-old Keadrain Corbin, of Beaumont, tried to grab the officer's gun.
"If someone's gonna do that to an officer, then what is it gonna mean for someone like me?" Hammond said.
Two hours later in the Little Woodrow's parking lot, witnesses reported to Beaumont Police that a driver almost hit a group of people. That's when, police say, people chased after the car shooting the driver.
Getz and fellow councilman AJ Turner have had meetings with bar owners.
"The owner of Fuma Dubai did make that observation. That was something he was looking at, raising the age to 25. Again it's important to notice that all of these things are happening out in the parking lots. Now you know the parking lots are a common area. And it's is difficult for a restaurant owner to police what's going on out in the parking lot," said Getz.
The business has discussed alternatives, like raising the age limit.
"A lot of the younger kids, the 21s, they drink and they don't know how to control their liquor sometimes," said Hammond.
Another potential solution that has been discussed is closing earlier and adding more security.
"I think they need to hire, you know, people to stand out and protect the women and the men," Hammond told 12News.
Overall safety is necessary for the economy to thrive.
"To keep the young people here in Beaumont. Spending their dollars and time in Beaumont, that's what we want to do," said Getz.
Corbin has been charged with attempting to disarm a police officer, assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest.
Getz says he will continue to work with bar owners to find better solutions.