January 16, 1999 Illusions, a nightclub that opened in Nesconset about a month ago, was closed early yesterday morning by Suffolk County police and the Smithtown Fire Marshal’s Office, who cited overcrowding and other fire violations uncovered in a surprise inspection.
The bar, which has a maximum occupancy of 250, was “grossly overcrowded” with 380 patrons and employees early Saturday, police said. Fire marshals issued more than 20 summonses for code violations for the club at 290 Smithtown Blvd.
The club’s owner, James Orioli of Westbury, was arrested and charged with reckless endangerment, a misdemeanor. Released on station house bail, Orioli is to be arraigned in First District Court in Central Islip; the date has not been set. He could not be reached for comment yesterday.
Also arrested was Smithtown resident Cory Tilton, 20, who was charged with disorderly conduct and inciting to riot, a violation and misdemeanor, respectively. Tilton is accused of trying to persuade the crowd to assault the officer guarding the door of the club and “take his gun.”
He was also released on $500 station house bail. Tilton, a student at State College of Technology at Farmingdale, said the charges against him were trumped up and that police slammed him into a wall and harassed him while arresting him.
Police “used the force necessary to make a legal arrest,” said Officer Randy Jaret, a Suffolk County police spokesman.
Tilton said he works to promote the nightclub, whose policy is to allow in 18-year-olds but not let them drink. He conceded that he had made some denigrating remarks about police as he stood outside the club but said he did not try to incite violence.
Tilton and his mother, Mary Ann Tilton of Smithtown, complained about the police crackdown on the club.
“There is nothing for the kids to do,” she said. “They go into a club, and the police follow them in.”
A merchant at a shop near Illusions said yesterday that it had been open only about a month.
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