Videos allegedly from the Newark rave raid show police confronting headliner Frankie Bones.
A warehouse party hosted by Nocturnal Creature Society (NCS) in Newark, New Jersey was reportedly raided by local law enforcement early on Sunday, March 30, leading to two arrests.
In a statement accompanied by videos that have gone viral with over 1,100 shares on Facebook, it was reported that officers arrived around 12:30 am “to check for trespassing.” Despite the organizers providing proof of their rental agreement with the venue owner, police allegedly attempted to intimidate them with no legal grounds to enter.
Subsequently, around 2 am, undercover officers reportedly entered the venue, approaching the DJ booth without displaying their badges or requesting the music to stop. One video appears to show an officer aggressively pushing event headliner Frankie Bones against a wall while other officers engage with another individual.
“An hour into my set, a guy in tactical gear comes up from behind and pushes me aside and is messing with the mixer,” Frankie Bones (real name Frankie Mitchell) told EDM Identity via Messenger. “He never identified himself as a cop or said a word. When I stepped in front of him, he grabbed me and shoved me into the wall.”
An anonymous attendee of the event shared with EDM Identity that officers were “swarming every room, searching everyone they could, including me.” They noted that shortly after, they and their friends stepped outside to find performing artist Astrid and much of the security team detained.
The Newark Police Department confirmed to EDM Identity via email that two men were arrested at the event, and the investigation is ongoing.
“This was not about safety,” the organizers stated. “This was about intimidation. They opted for force over communication. They targeted a peaceful, organized event. We will not be intimidated. Rave is not a crime.”
This story is still developing, and EDM Identity will provide updates as more information becomes available.
