Comfort Zone Busted in Early Morning Raid

routine? I would bet that every cop in this city knows exactly what comfort zone is and what goes on there. The owners must have some deal with the cops honestly. its beyond me how this place remains open. when it doesn't open till 6am and goes all day. I have been there once and I can safely say that everyone was under the influence of something other than a few drinks.

ya think?

I was at the rave on Noble street and it got busted around 6:00 am.

All I can say is that I'm glad I wasn't there! This is crazy! I still haven't heard from a few people that I know were there... Not too sure what to expect. The reports say that it went down at 6:30am, but CZ doesn't open til 6 and granted the line up outside would have been pretty big...

c'mon its CZ....what do you expect...i remember way back when i was attending the CZ if you were starting to lose your high, a bouncer would come by and give you a bump so you wouldn't pass out...lol..ah thank god those times are over...but hey most people don't even notice it happening...maybe it didn't happen much now..but in the past..it was more drug influenced...not to say that CZ today isn't as bad..but i think we could all manage a few more hours of sleep instead of a few more hours of drug use...

dude, it was not routine!!! there were 200 cops in there, with at least 50 swat team members. They ran a HUGE operation, shit was hitting the fan. 90% of the people in there got charged, all the doors were broken down, walls were taken down, pool tables, bathroom stalls couches - nothing was left unturned. they even had to call in paramedics, people were kicked around, strip searched, even molested. what a horrifying experience, and to think it was our first time in the place after hearing about it for so long... what are the odds eh? i should go out and buy a lottery ticket now!

cz opened at 4 am, shit when down at 6:30.. first set people people to come out were a/ clean (didn't have any drugs on their person) b/ didn't have a record. i was one of the fortunate ones, and i got out at 8:am after they processed me.

"Church" (where you go Sunday morning) is the least surprising establishment in the city for a raid... but I'm surprised at the number of arrests being reported. 150? How do cops arrest 150 people inside a venue? You'd think that by the time they got to the 50th and remaining 100 would think to ditch their stash, and then what crime are they committing?

there wasnt a way you could ditch your stash, like i said 200 cops. swat teams came and got everyone on the floor, face on the concrete and put plastic handcuffs on everyone. everyone around me had soooooo much shit on them, from every drug imaginable to hundreds of dollar separated. it wasn't the routine 5 cops mission man, 200 COPS, i kid you not. almost every one in my section had their own cop. 14 Division, the Drug Squad and the Emergency Task Force staged the take-down in a massive way!

Jeez.. nothing like a SWAT team with shotguns to ruin your 6am buzz..

JM - Molesting? A bust like this, I can see peoples rights getting trampled on, but are you really claiming the cops were...copping feels on people rather than patting people down?

this girl with me said she got felt up, cop was apparently trying to help her stand up and instead of grabbing her elbow he decided to grab her by the waist and up. the reason we needed help getting up was because they tied everyone up within the first 5 minutes of the raid and then relocated us. fortunately for us, the nightmare ended quickly at 8 am when they realized we were a bunch of randoms with no drugs and no records, which was apparently very uncommon. we were shoved out the door quickly at that point.

I was there as well. I have never had so many guns pointed at me. The police had assault rifles, it was very scary. The police seemed very violent and disorganized and many people were bleeding from the being thrown down on the ground. It seemed a real unnecessary show of force. My hands are still numb from the plastic cuffs!

thank you,

this should of happend a long time ago

I was there as well and one of the first dozen to be processed and let go. I can tell you one thing for sure they were extremely excessive.yup, everybody was arrested but few were charged. I lay face down cuffed for a good 45 minutes and everytime I moved to try and stay comfortable I had a boot jammed on the back of my head telling me not to fucking move! They intimidated the shit out of people, girls were crying, people bleeding and sent to the hospital. I'm talking innocent people that were released without charge. I was in the processing wagon when a woman cop brought this poor guy in bleeding from the head, the ears, just a mess. Her comment was that he was injured during the execution of the warrant. He was injured through police brutality. Nothing more, nothing less. This club has been going for 10 to 15 years and now they execute a hardcore raid. What were they doing...collecting intelligence for the last 14 years.C'mon, it was extremely excessive and unnecessary. Intimidation and brutality is all it was. There were 50 to 70 cops from the SWAT team, to gangs and guns, uniformed cops, undercover cops and the ems teams. These guys were real pricks on a night when 6 people were shot elsewhere in the city and they want to attack a group of people dancing on Happy Pills...c'mon. Ever seen a nightclub with 3000 people in it on alcohol. They turn into instant assholes with everyone beating the shit out of each other. This place has a great friendly atmosphere, with fun music and everybody having a great time. Then you have a place like the Matador thats with 500 yards of 14 Division thats been running for about 40 years with very little incident or cop activity outside of the odd cop that goes there after hours to drink and party. This I know for a FACT. There even trying to make this place a Heritage site. Its no secret you can buy a watered down mickey up in the front corner. The comfort zone has security at the front patting everyone down on the way in, no alcohol AT ALL and a really fun communal atmosphere for people into HOUSE music that have been out dancing and just dont want the night to end. Listen, I understand the need for crowd control and all that when executing a warrant but I work extremely hard all week, pay my taxes like a good boy, having never had a run in with the law and do not deserve to be treated they way I was. These cops were all there doing a meet and greet with each other. I saw at least 15 cops going around shaking hands and introducing them selfs to each other slapping each other on the back and congratulating each other. It was like a high school reunion for them and I'm pretty bloody pissed off about the whole thing. There are drugs everywhere in the city including our high schools, public parks and shopping malls....are they going to go around and start throwing people to the ground checking there pockets. If 20% of the population does drugs I'm sure pretty much 20% of any gathering will be guilty of that be we have rights and need to stand up for them. I truly hope I'm not the only one this pissed and that enough people stand up for this and acknowledge that it was unnecessary force, intimidation and Police brutality. These guys need to have a little more respect for there fellow man.....over and out

I wonder what happened? The CZ, and what goes on in there on a nightly basis, has been an open secret to anyone with an even passing knowledge of the Toronto club scene for years. I figured that the authorities just turned a blind eye because nothing really bad ever happened there (ie. fights, ODs, murders). I'm looking forward to hearing more details, but it certainly seems very random. The early reports about the behaviour of the police are a little troubling as well.

"everybody was arrested but few were charged"

In other news, 200 sweaty, furiously-pupiled, extremely talkative police officers were seen lying in a big pile in a nearby park Sunday afternoon, cuddling and grinding their jaws.

So now the police can go on TV tommorow morning just in time for the Monday morning news and tell everybody in Toronto what a great job they're doing, and tell us about all the people they arested, and all the drugs they confiscated. And the police will tell us how much safer our city streets are now as a result of their fine work.

Meanwhile, the piece of shit who organized the raid will end up with a promotion, which is of course, the only REAL reason this raid took place.

This is pretty disturbing news, and the general feeling I am getting from this is that the police acted with way too much force. I obviously hope there is major fallout from this, but it seems like cops never suffer the consequences of their actions.

I am a semi-regular CZ attendee, but not in the usual way. I go there to distribute condoms for a City of Toronto-funded organization. In fact, I wonder who from my organization was signed up for this morning's shift - I hope they didn't get arrested!

And, of course, I wonder what Adam Vaughan will have to say about this.

Listen,

The whole bust was a failure. The guy who died was prolly wearing a CZ wrist band, and they thought the drugs he died from came from CZ.

They tore the place apart from the inside out, and they found NOTHING.

They busted a few dealers prolly, but the club was innocent.

It'll reopen in a few weeks, the bust was a FAILURE

Fucking pigs are idiots.

What guy who died?

Wow i got so lucky... i was out partying till early morning at another venue which name i dont want to disclose. Anyways we were all still in a dancing mood and didnt want the night to end so everyone with me wanted to go to comfort zone. I have only been there once before but didnt like the venue. After my friends told me how the redid the place and its better than before i decided to sit down in the car for a smoke with everyone and decide on my next move. Lucky for me i decided to just go home and dj at the house and just relax. I would have hated to have to be in a situation described above.

We all know what comfort zone is about but what surprises me most is some other larger venues in the city which are more famous dont ever get raided. I wonder why they singled out comfort zone i am sure they could have found more drugs in the same morning at a different club.

Now about the police behavior during the raid i totally believe danielle and others who have stated their opinion on the bust. Basically it was a free pass for the cops to go in to there and do what they want. They expected everyone to be on something in there so they though they can get away with murder inside there. I wish someone had video taped the behavior of the cops because i doubt anyone who was harrased/assaulted bother to file a complain. My advice to anyone who felt the cops were to aggressive or to daniella friend who claims to have been felt up please file a complaint.

This is disturbing. Why now? Why in such a manner? Was someone not properly paid off? What is the official reasoning? What do the local Municipal, Provincial, Federal representatives say? I too would be curious to hear Adam Vaughns comment on this- I can hardly say I have spent almost anytime at CZ-but if one wanted to design a Safe Streets campaign they could do worse than to allow spaces to exist where people could safely congregate in the morning an through the day rather than wandering the streets intoxicated-

The entire situation is suspect- But I think one thing in particular should be hilighte for review-

Can police get a warrant that allows them to search everyone in a public space? Is that legal? Should it be?

The thought of the entire population of any form of establishment being cuffed, searched, and having their files pulled is rather disturbing. Is this a common practice?

I hope more comes to light on this - and it sounds very much like there should be some kind of review of police behaviour in this case- If nothing like that happens I think the public should cry foul on the Police Review Board-

Comfort zone is legendary. It was always about the music.

The National Post article actually kind of disturbs me a little. If you click on that link, you'll still see the headline "Dozen's rounded up in raid on chinatown nightclub" with a large photo of the Silver Dollar Room.

Even though they've been shown they were mistaken with their original story, they decided to keep the existing story up. And instead of offering a retraction, they simply put up a quote by the Silver Dollar's owner making it sound like he's defending a guilty club.

Looks like someone forgot to slip the boys in blue their March payment.

"swat teams came and got everyone on the floor, face on the concrete.."

Now that is a fate I would not wish upon my worst enemy.
*shudder*

It's a sad day in toronto when its cops turn out to be power hungry, trigger happy assholes that seem to gain sadistic pleasure and bravado from its peers for their shameful actions.

From the stories I've heard of the raid that night the cops really thought they had a 'free pass' on their actions.
From breaking basic human rights to using beyond excessive force to females being inappropriately treated they seem to have run rampant behind the closed doors.

I really hope someone is held accountable for how the whole operation was executed and I hope we see a few law suits slapped at these assholes in the near future. Until then, I guess we can all feel a little safer in the city upto the point when we ourselves become victims of similar circumstances.

Or we could just wait and find out what actually happened instead of immediately believing everything a few people posting on an internet blog say.

Somehow I doubt that most of those allegations are true. Molestation? Honestly?

I still love that place. I was not there that morning but have been going allot. It's all about the music.

what were the cops supposed to do? continue ignoring the CZ?

but now that its over, CZ can go back to its original vibe, no doubt with some apprehension and hesitation.

This is what the drug-free part of society wants. this is how their cops react.

To answer the question of "why now?" No doubt the police have a certain quota they have to pull in; there is no conspiracy; no pay offs - NADA! This is all about stats and getting the drugs on the table for tv cameras.

While I empathize with people who say they've been roughed-up, what the fuck do you expect? You're in an illegal club/ drug haven with loads of drugs on you? Jesus, do you think you're above the law and entitled to a sit-down chat???

I never go but hey, it should be interesting to see the fall-out from this.

"It's a sad day in toronto when its cops turn out to be power hungry, trigger happy assholes that seem to gain sadistic pleasure and bravado from its peers for their shameful actions."

"Trigger happy" ??

There are cameras in the club.

Anyone who got sexually harassed or assaulted by the police should ask CZ for the tapes.

Then, you can file a complaint, or even a lawsuit.

The police had to choose between a few things that weekend.

They either had to handle the shootings, or go after something a lot easier.

Anyone who has lived in this city for 10 years or more would automatically know, that toronto police are COWARDS.

They go after the easiest tasks, they find ways to do their jobs as easy as possible. They never go after the big fish, because they are pussies.

This is why our shootings never decrease, the murders never go down and true crime will always flow the city.

The toronto police work for crime. They sell the drugs they confenscate when they're not on shift and they steal any money they can get.

It was an easy picken, and they knew the club made a lot of money, which they stole from the office/safe as well.

It wasn't about the drugs.

It was a ROBBERY.

What a joke this is!!!
You expect the cops to keep turning a blind eye to this kind of shit!!! This place is a drug den, The VAST majority of people that go the CZ are going there for drugs...Coke...Speed..GIB......XTC etc. and you expect the cops to let this go one with out any kind of bust???

As for "CZ is about the music man!!!" what a pile of shit that is...These dj's are not talented Dj's/producers, from Europe..they are just local guys spinning some tunes to trip out to.

And as for the dirtbags that are saying.."OMG WOMAN WERE MOLESTED BY THE POLICE AND MEN SAVAGELY BEATEN..."

Get a grip..This is not A raid by the Khemer Rouge

Noone is right or wrong here, Comfort Zone is known to be hell and heaven to many and I'm sure while the ones enjoying the vibe and all (like myself, I went back after years and I was dancing to Deko Zee killer beats) it was truly something I ll never forget, however I've also experienced some traumatic times, seeing people passing out, completely out, some have died, as we all know and while we cannot point fingers, having a place open for another 12 hours of partying on Sunday, it is a major temptations to those who have already lost many brain cells. Look, I'm older now, I can see the danger, I'm VERY LUCKY, I m a decent human being, work hard, University education, etc etc, I had the most amazing times at CZ but when i see those kids, completely out of it, almost anorexic, I feel awful, is an ugly truth. I hope this is a wake up call, and if CZ IS TRULY about the music, then let it be that way, the truth is, noone is there completely sober!!! I tried it once and I couldn't even enjoy the music I so much love because I was so scared, I saw some pretty nasty things.
Maybe this was just a big wake up call, maybe someone could have died that day :( Anyways what I DO NOT tolerate is the excessive force the police used on the patrons, treating them like dirt, some girls telling they were molested, I believe it. That is why noone is truly right or wrong, nothing was absolute that morning. You should report if you were mistreated, don't be silent about it even if nothing gets done, do your part. Police are NOT that innnocent we have seen much corrupted officers, ESPECIALLY when drugs are involved.

no really, im not putting up a reaction post. i've heard first person accounts of that night from people who were there and there's a lot that happened in a short span of time which are best told by people who went through the ordeal themselves. i really hope people come forward with this thing and we can all look at it for what it is.

i think one thing we are all forgetting is that the comfort zone was a legal establishment that served patrons and was famous for its music all over the city. so for the police to break in and treat every single individual like criminals and junkies has got to be unacceptable.

i'm very much interested to see what the press conference thats scheduled today brings out to the media.

I have a feeling that the cops were looking for and found alot of drugs.

FUN FACT....Drugs are apart of violence....I am not saying that anyone at CZ was violent...although the bikers and gangsters that contribute to the drug trade are VERY violent...and i am pretty sure the patrons at CZ on a whole were large consumers

I dont think the raid was carried out because the cops dont like Acid Techno.

Are you fucking kidding me? It's a raid, FOR FUCKS SAKE that was open illegally after-hours!!!

It was NOT a robbery and if any money was taken, it was done so because it would be evidence. The money would be labelled as profits from crime and confiscated.

The police do not work for crime and nor do they sell drugs on the side. Get a crip, people. Just because we're lefties, doesn't mean the police are against us. Jesus Christ.

The cops really know how to pick there fight!! Go after consenting adultes, if it is in after hours clubs or strip clubs!!??? How many 10000 's of $ are spent on these raids ???!!!! Month's of undrecover investigations..... Solve the real crime and let the people who are just having a little bit of fun after long day of work have some fun!!!
Me and are husband love Zone. The best music in town, we 've been going for 2 years. we heard all the stuff about it and promissed we 'll never go... One day, good friend's b- day.. we went. It was not like what we heard!! Yes, it is a bit sketchy, but everyone is friendly, music is fantatic You can never dance the way you dance in Zone anywhere alse. I accully feel safe there. Nobody is agresive or rud or just asshole.
Go to reguler club!!! I'll be hit on by guys and scare my husbend will get hurt if he stands up for me.

Like I sad: PICK YOUR FIFGHTS ,POLICE, LET PEOPLE HAVE FUN AND FIGHT THE REAL CRIME!!!"

I am pretty sure extensive drug use and Illegal operation of a night club would be considered a "real crime"

@torontonian.

CZ wasn't open illegally. It doesn't serve booze, and can therefore open whenever it wants.

POLICE JUST WANTED TO MAKE A STATEMENT TO ALL THE UNDERGROUND DEALERS MAKING A KILLING SELLING RIGHT UNDER THERE NOSES..SOMEONE OBVIOUSLY DID'NT GET PAID OFF RIGHT OR THE POLICE WOULD OF LEFT IT A KNOWN SECRET.. NONE OF THE BIG GUYS WERE THERE SO ALL THAT MONEY IN LABOUR WAS A WASTE OF TIME...THEY JUST WANTED TO TRY TO SCARE EVERYONE IN THE SCENE...FUCK THERE ARE DRUGS IN EVERY BAR, CLUB , HOUSE JAM...WHY BOTHER A BUNCH OF G'D OUT PEOPLE NOT CAUSING ANY PROBLEMS...

@ dilla

Lets not kid each other....
CZ maybe alowed to open for whatever hours they want because they dont serve booze...
But lets be real....The people attending are not buying orange juice and cereal at that time...
The place is used to drugs

Tell me then - if it's not illegal, why was it busted? And please don't give me some stoner conspiracy answer.

I love the logic that because gun crime exists no other crimes should be enforced.

While the legal system will have to work through whether or not any crimes in fact occurred, I've experienced similar police behaviour to the brutality described above. After five years of fighting the complaint and legal process, I walked away from my experience with two apologies and a cash settlement from Toronto police. So with that, I offer a bit of free advice:

File a complaint with the police if you feel their actions were beyond what you believe is fair, reasonable and aligned with the powers and responsibilities of a police officer. It isn't a quick or easy process. If you get anywhere with it, it'll take you years to see results. This might be the most flawed system of police accountability of any Western jurisdiction. But, bottom line, if you want cops to respect your rights then file the complaint. I was arrested at a political demonstration and the message to me was "Don't come back," clearly that's what was intended by the massive amount of resources dedicated to this raid.

For specifics on the complaint process visit http://www.torontopolice.on.ca/professionalstandards/complaint.php.

For anyone who was present at the raid, write down everything you can recall about the raid ASAP. The longer you wait the less vivid your memory and if you ever have to testify about your experience using your notes will make you much more credible. Next, find as many people as you can who were also present for the raid and get them to also write about their experience. Keep their contact information so you can reference each other as witnesses.

You have up to six months from the date of the incident to file a complaint so you don't need to rush. Collect all of your thoughts and take the time to describe every aspect of your complaint in a letter to the Toronto Police Service (details at the link above). The more specific your complaint the better the chance you have of being successful in getting the justice you're seeking.

Be prepared for the police to tell you that your complaint is without merrit. That was their first response to me. You have the right to appeal that decision to the provincial police oversight body, the Ontario Civillian Commission on Police Services. You will get a fairer evaluation of your complaint from OCCOPS.

Finally, though you don't require a lawyer to file a complaint, if you can find one who will offer you advice or a bit of assistance in navigating the system, that is optimal.

Oh god.
I could imagine what the meth heads in that club will do with any cash settlement they might get.

Sounds like more crimes were committed when the police were in there than before they stepped foot in the joint. Stupid pigs.

Wow, are we still calling cops "pigs"? I haven't done so since grade 9? Yawn.

Slugzkea - Please get your facts right. European Djs actually HAVE dj-ed there and very recently. Also, just because a Dj is from Europe does not mean they are the only ones who are talented.

Laidback Luke - Producer and talented DJ from the Netherlands was there in December. Just one example.

I've had more problems and seen more violence at the Guvernment Nightclub from drunken party goers. I've been molested in there in the Orange Room and bouncers ignored my pleas for the offender to be thrown out and my friends beaten. I've had no problems from a few visits to the Zone. This raid co-incides with a recent change in ownership, a new afterhours opening elsewhere with ex zone employees working at the new place and one of the patrons dying from a drug related death. There are no "Bikers" in there... this rumour makes me laugh. Mainly a bunch of people from all walks of life - students, professionals, and yes, a few people who probably abuse stuff a little too often, but they don't cause problems. They keep themselves to themself and just dance.

The main question about this very public raid I have is "why now?"

I'm already hearing crap uttered about the place in work and it's shocking how much influence the media has on people.

Also - the club is NOT illegal!!! How can somewhere operate for 10 years and be illegal? It was busted as cops were looking for gang member activity - that is illegal, not the club itself.

@ Marie.
Give me a break.
This is not 1998 people need to find something better to do with thier time then OD in a drug den at 7 Am

John Marks and Adam, both are great comments you've written.
This is not a black and white issue, and those who have opinions, should consider both sides without such insulting comments.

CL I love your comment as well.

@torontonian
It's moments like these where cops earn a name like pig. Call them what you want, but it's amazing to me how naive some posts are about the extent to which cops can abuse the power they are given. It's true that those of us who were not at the CZ during the raid do not know what happened, and the chances are very good that the media will not accurately depict what took place. However, given the history of the Toronto police and the details of some firsthand accounts, it's not hard to imagine what went on. Someone mentioned the surveillance tapes ... I will bet good money that the tapes will either be confiscated "as evidence" and never shown, or they will magically disappear. If they ever surfaced on the net, I'm sure Toronto would go wild. Video footage of police brutality seems to be the only way to wake some people up to what goes on.

@marie

Funny how folks are too quick to blame the media for reporting the wrong side of events and yet, others are so quick at painting the police with a single brush stroke.

I'm sure the "first hand" accounts you hear will no doubt be non-partisan and balanced!

Seriously people your at an after hours place at 7 am that is known by everyone to be a drug haven, and yet some of you feel that the police are in the wrong? I hate cops too, but have some common sense and do something better with your time then be up till 7 at the hole that is CZ, drug user or not.

A massive, coordinated police raid on a well-known bastion for hard drugs (distributed to and used by underaged patrons) should have been forceful and swift. Things shouldn't come to blows/blood unless patrons resist and more force than necessary (for cooperative suspects) is required.

Sounds to me like it was handled as it should have been handled: storm the place, force everyone into a position that allows police to sort out the good from the bad, take away those breaking the law, and let go the rest.

It sounds like a lot of e-tards on party hour 24 are upset that they had their face to the concrete for half an hour before being let go. A drug raid isn't ever a pretty scene, and if you set yourself up in a place like CoZo there may be a price to pay once in a while.

Lots of talk amongst clubbers on:

Trance Addict and Tribe

I'm surprised how many people are defending the club. Yes they were open legally, and yes there is ALWAYS illegal activity going on in the CZ.

But to say there is a quota for cops is ridiculous. To say that they robbed the CZ is ridiculous. To say the cops should look the other way is ridiculous.

We all the CZ's rep. If you go there, you may not being doing lots of drugs or any drugs at all but you should expect the place to be under scrutiny.

For the rest of the e-heads still thinking its 1994, relax. Another venue will open soon enough to dance and dose your life away.

its not the first time zone's been raided and it won't be the last... every now and then the cops have to make a sweep and make their presence known... they do uniformed walk throughs of the place sometimes ... they know what goes on in there... zone'll be back... and it will get raided again... the circle of life according to the laws of the universe in zone!

@slugzkea

'As for "CZ is about the music man!!!" what a pile of shit that is...These dj's are not talented Dj's/producers, from Europe..they are just local guys spinning some tunes to trip out to.'

you sir, are an idiot that obviously knows nothing about the scene or electronic music whatsoever. some of the most talented djs/producers in the world have passed through the comfort zone - and the locals that do spin there have telent coming out of their arse - sydney blu - check out beatport.com right now - number 5 track in the world right now - yeah, she's got no talent - you idiot.

According to the Toronto Police Services website, they are having a press conference today at 1pm. I think this will tell the police side of the story.

First of all, let's tell it like it is: Comfort Zone is a venue for people to continue doing drugs from the night before. Yeah sure, there are people there who are not high, but they are the exception - for gods sake, the place OPENS at 6 a.m. So, enough with the "cops are assholes for arresting a bunch of innocents", etc. - it's crap, and you know it. That is a risk that you assume when you decide to rock hard. Not trying to preach - I like to rock too - but please cut the BS for ht epueposes of discussion.

That said, there seems to be confusion about the cops. THE POLICE ARE DIRTY. THEY TAKE BRIBES TO "LOOK THE OTHER WAY" FROM PLAZES LIKE CZ AND THE OTHER AFTER HOURS BARS. OF COURSE THE COPS KNOW ABOUT CZ AND ALL THE OTHER ONES. THE ONLY REASON THAT THEY DO NOT GET RAIDED IS BECAUSE THE DIRTY LYING SLEAZY PUNK COPS EXTORT MONEY FROM THE BAR OWNERS.

CZ doesn't pay protection, the cops likely decided it was time after enough complaints from locals.

You can sue the police in small claims court. It doesn't cost much to file the claim, and the cops always settle rather than go to court, where they would have to testify. You can only claim up to $10K in small claims court, but you don't need a lawyer and it costs way less. File a claim for injuries sustained as a result of the use of excessive force by the police. CZ is, as far as I know, a legal establishment, so the mere fact that a person was there would not make the person a 'default' criminal, such as a person in an illegal after-hours bar. Consequently, the cops have no justification for the degree of force apparently used.

And press conferences aren't much better than some of the responses on here; they just have better grammar.

http://www.torontopolice.on.ca/media...03.17-1300.mp3

Live audio feed of the Police Press Conference

People think the act of being arrested is an act of violence in itself. I was treated like everyone there. I wasn't on anything but coffee, was told to lie down, was handcuffed, was searched, processed let go, that's it. People that had the same treatment as me were crying and hyperventilating and begging the police to stop, and I'm not talking about women,(the women around me were very mature about everything) I'm talking about 200 pound slobs, crying for their mommies. "OFFICER I CAN'T BREATH, OFFICER I THINK I'M HAVING A HEART ATTACK, OFFICER I WONT BE ABLE TO FACE MY MOMMY IN THORNHILL IF YOU ARREST ME" If you talk to all 200 people there, you will get 200 different stories, if you watch everything like a fly on a wall (like those supposed security tapes) you will see a well organised raid with no panic provoked, they moved in, and got everyone on the floor within 30 seconds and started processing. I was one of the lucky ones that got out within half an hour so I do feel for those who were there for three hours. I am not a fan of the police in this city, but , they did their job the way they were told and, other than the guy with gauze around his head, noone was hurt. Now the question is, why this place and not the 5 other places in the city that not only have lineups to the washrooms with dealers standing by the door, but also serve booze. Not that I want those places closed (other than the fact that you can't take a piss because some cokeheads are having a private party in the loo) but why not them first?

^^^Great post^^^
A raid is never usually a great thing to go through..
Get it together, move on...

Police Press Release:

http://www.torontopolice.on.ca/newsreleases/pdfs/13641.pdf

Geez.... drugs are everywhere, and they treated Comfort Zone like it was some big meth lab. What happened in this case? Simple.. someone didn't get paid so the cops moved in....

To all those who are defending the cops and saying that these kids got what they deserved, let me ask you - why does it bother you so much that people are up a t 7am having a good time, whether on drugs or not? Jealous that it's not you?

Well looks like all the people just trying to have a good time were being not so nice.

"It is alleged that drugs, which included heroin, cocaine, ecstasy, ketamine and GHB, with a
value of $30,000, were seized, along with $35,000 cash."

@ Rob.
No i am not jealous that i am not in a basement of a homeless shelter doing K at 7am.

That being said..
I sued to go to after hours when i was a wee lad aswell, but hasnt that fad passed???
Like common who listens to Goa Trance anymore?

It doesn't bother me and I'm not jealous at all. Been there, done that, moved on.

The point is that when you knowingly engage in illegal activity you can hardly cry foul when you get caught. The way some of you are carrying on it's as if you believe there is some grand conspiracy to stop the kids from dancing. It's Footloose all over again.

The CZ has a druggy reputation. It's hardly surprising that the cops knew about it too. It's far more likely that they were responding to community pressure.

Yeah, that's another thing. Isn't it a little embarassing that there's an after hours rave club still operating? In 2008? We don't want that getting out. Other cities will make fun of us.

LOL @ TRIPPER
Also if you check out the police statment it specifically mentions why the raid took place.

Can you believe they said they found narcotics?!?!?!

The horror!!!!

I find it so funny that people don't think that drug use/posession is a crime. Just becuase you have a pocket full of drugs and not gang banging in Rexdale does not mean that you are not BREAKING THE LAW

Listen apetimberlake, chill chill, maybe u should get a job w. the squad team...

the day I see Bush arrested and there is no more war, I'll stop doing E, til then peace love and dance

For everyone who is upset about this raid there is a wonderful program out there it is called Narcotics Anonymous. Check out the website find a meeting and go to one. If you are one of the lucky ones you will get a life shortly thereafter.

All of this because some dumb rich white bitch's brother CHOSE to do drugs and overdosed on them.

Then cried to the police, putting CZ to blame.

Keep crying you stupid fucking whore, your brother got what he deserved.

NO ONE, not the club or anybody forced the drugs down his throat, his choice was his own demise.

I could only wish you died along with him.

you fucking stupid bitch.

Think of how many jobs you killed for people, but you'll never know what that's like since your mommy and/or daddy pay for everything.

Sunday was Fucked up!definatly Ruined Cz for me

UPDATE:

The drugs they found were off the people partying there, and not from the club.

The cash they siezed was from the SAFE in the office, which they broke into and stole.

The only thing that can shut down the club now is fire violations.

They had nothing on the club.

WHITE RABBIT WAS A FLOP! SPREAD THE WORD

There's also over 10 lawyers trying to get everybody out, and I heard that most charges will be dropped.

The cops FUCKED up, and they didn't get the tapes to the cameras, haha.

So anyone who got felt up by the police, or beaten, CZ still has the tapes.

Lawsuit people, lets fight this!

@ slugzkea
Fight what?
A raid on a club for known drug use?

I dont understand.

Secondly, You don't think that the law has any requirement to raid an establishment that after another regional Police dept. investigation shows that drugs purchased there after someone dies?

Try to think through your K-Hole think for a moment

WTF! I thought the cops were paid to leave us the F alone at the Zone. This is BS, just because some guy OD'd and died after attending - that's why all this went down. TO THE FAMILY: it's not the CZ's fault your kid died, he would have gotten drugs either way, at least he had a safe, fun place to use. Now we will die on the streets - is that better for you?

First of all, I don't do k.

Second of all, the club does not sell drugs.

If you knew anything about clubbing, all clubs have drugs.

You can't find them all when you search people, it's like boarder crossing.

The cops can't stop all traffiking, same thing applies to the clubs.

There's something to fight, because the warrant was to bust the club for selling drugs and they found NOTHING.

THE CLUB DOES NOT SELL DRUGS.

so fuck you.

There's also no proof that the drugs came from CZ, or that they were purchsed from CZ.

Just because the moron od'ed and died wearing a CZ wrist band doesn't mean he got the drugs from there, or even dosed them there.

He coulda dosed them while he was at home and was too fucked up to realize that he was still wearing his wrist band.

even though comfort zone has a sick music this place is a hell...unfortunately that place ruined a lot of lives. not everyone can handle drugs very well, and we all know that drugs keep that place jumping. some people over do it and some even die. they lose jobs and relationhips. its a fact. I would be really happy if somehow CZ would be a cleaner place. meaning less druggies and fags. period

Also, the woman who was working coat check, it was her Birthday that morning.

The cops took her tip cup, full of her hard earned tips, and REFUSED to give her, her money

Her own damn tip money she earned, on her birthday.

You call that justice?

That is theft, Fuck the police. Fucking cowards. Yeah nice bust, White Rabbit Pussy Shit.

Go hunt people in Regent or Rexdale and leave peaceful clubs the fuck alone.

Wow to wish someone would die along with whomever OD there, wow drugs have cause some major mental disability, watch yourself kid, what u wish to others sooner than later can happen to YOU!!!! How sad is this

That is correct - I bring and use drugs to every club I attend, including CZ....so the bust was a waste of time, inspired by some rich family who lost their son - f'in stupid man. Good waste of tax dollars once again - 200 cops at $200 each (at least) = $40,000 tax thrown in the garbage. Everyone is gonna get off and CZ (or another after hours) will be in operation by next week. Good job everyone.

slugzkea = Rageaholics Anonymous

It's about time. I used to attend Divine Sunday's there for 2/3 years from 1999-2002 and when I went there for a gag about 8 months ago with a friend we were in shock.
Back in the day when clubs like X-It and Industry were still running people would head to the CZ to keep the party going, sure there's a few people still in it for the beats but the majority of people there now are complete junkies. I mean the crowd there now looks like something from a horror flick.
Don't get me wrong there were always a few heavy hitters, gangsters, :), but not the extent of crack and crystal heads that there are now. The rave or party scene has been dead for quite some time and I think the Zone should stay closed for good.

It won't happen to be because I'm not a drug abuser.

And i ain't no fucken kid, I defend the club because there's way worst places.

I'm not saying the place was all bright and sunshine, but it definately didn't get what it deserved.

I wouldn't work at any other club, especially the ones in the shooting district for that main reason.

Barely any fights happen there.

Barely anyone leaves on a stretcher there, and there's no stabbings to my memory of the years being there/working there.

Say all you want, my evidence is practical.

CZ will live.

The rave / party scene is only dead in you John, the vibe is very much alive in Toronto.

Believe me Rick, I stay in touch with a lot of the DJs who spin at places like Footwork and so on, it's nothing like it was b4...

The comment about the raid being inspired by a rich family, I think I agree with that. I've been to cz my share of times, and I remember seeing crazy things. BUT, like people have said, if you WANT to surround yourself with that kind of stuff, then go for it. why the hell not? If the guy didn't OD there he probably would have OD'd somewhere else. I have intimate knowledge of how our justice system works, including the Police, and I think that the people involved were just doing their job. They don't know what's happening waaaay above them, up the chain of command. Everything was probably planned, just get in, do it, make the "public" (ie, the guy's family) happy, and then you can go back to your routine.
On the other hand, I woudn't care it cz was gone for good. I watched an old man, older than anyone should be to party like that, sit in a chair and choke on his own vomit. He wasn't drunk that's for sure. I told one bouncer and he didn't even care. I went and found another bouncer that I was familiar with and told him. He took the guy somewhere...who knows. Things like the G-out room? The room you only get to be in if you are so f'd you can't even sit up. I've heard of people getting raped and robbed in there because they can't defend themselves. The whole place is a sad example of how pathetic humans can be.
Anyway, whatever, I'm not judging. People are going to do drugs no matter what, but you can't really deny that that place is revolting.

John, I've been partying since the Zone was called BUZZ and before that. I've attended parties at Footworks and still party, not as often as I used to, but still do. It's up to you and the people your with - positive vibe = good time. You may be right, it might not generally be all as good as in the past. But this is about something different. Places like CZ should remain in operation - there is nothing wrong with it.

Please slugzkea, you are so full of shit. Every weekend some is going out on a stretcher, just instead of bleeding they are twitching. One is better then the other? CZ is an open sore that make all TO clubs look bad. The only reason they don't have a liquor licence is because they would not get one if they tried it is just too notorious of an address. The major dealers do pay to have people in there, and no not the cops they pay the owners of the bar. You need to give you head a shake and realize that it is a negative influence on our community as a whole, that is why it got raided, OD'ed Hamiltonian or not it is a shit hole and should be shut down. That scene was good ten years ago, try living in today.

The fucking pigs will never receive justice for this pathetic event. Another fucked up situation in this world.

HMM - that the CZ is revolting is your opinion. The place gets top DJ's from Toronto and around the world. It is a fun place with the best music in the city. I saw I guy choke and pass out at a Kelsey's - so what! Lets close down the Kelsey's chain now. People use drugs at CZ, its no secret, again who cares. People use drugs at every club - big deal. We need a place like CZ - I will defend that to the end.

What is this really? The police are idiots and can't resolve all the gun violence in the city so they raid a club full of people just wanting to have a good time and dance? It's a waste of my tax dollars employing over 90 officers to do this. Then more of my tax dollars wasted on charges against 30 people, court hearings and jailing them. REDICULOUS!!!

The people posting here about how the cops couldn't possibly have had any corrupt intentions here are the ones who must've spent the past decade dazed in a basement...

http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/torontopolice/

exuser: people leave twitching on a stretcher everytime there is and Ultimate Fighting match too. We all know the risks when using drugs so that has nothing to do with it. CZ is an amazing, euphoric underground place - it should remain open. I will attend, regardless of people exiting on stretchers. If you can't handle it, shut up and stay home.

(and I hate CoZo)

People leaving on a stretch every weekend?

Buddy, i work there, every weekend.

The last time some one left on a stretcher was a girl who g'ed out at coat check and smacked her head on the counter.

and before that, it was over a year ago.

So be quiet, stop talking nonsense. Better yet, tell me your name so i'll ban your ass and you'll never be able to party there again.

You people who defend this place are completely fucked! DRUG USE AND DISTRIBUTION IS ILLEGAL! If you choose to use it and do it, use discretion. The younger punters are all heat score attention grabbers. Do you really think this was inevitable? Bravo cops... Keep it up :)

GG, drugs are illegal, who fuckin cares! So is speeding and not wearing a seat belt. Drugs will be used, there is nothing you or anyone can do about it. You think if the cops close CZ that's gonna change? NO WAY, we will continue to party and CZ should remain in operation.

Yes, bravo busting a place of little to no violence while people are getting shot raped and murdered daily.

Bravo indeed.

A lot of drugs are legal as well, for example: the cure for asthma are cortic-steriods.

yeah that's right, steroids. do you know how terrible steriods are? they are worst then any street drug you can imagine.

Do some real research.

BAck in my CZ days, 5 -6 yrs ago, the COPs or piggies as some would like to call them, would come in and patrol ther at least twice on Sundays. One in the MOrning and another pair in the eveing. I even remember one of them chatting with addie as he dj'd. They were always there. Even hanging outside chillin in there patrol cars for hours. So this whole raid seems just a little bit strange. There is definately something bigger than, oh there's drugged out people in there, let save the community...

As for the treatment of teh goers by the cops. We all know cops are assholes, wether it be a parking ticket to j-walking. They are assholes. so something like this raid ofcourse people are going to come out bleeding. what's going to come out of their behaviour? nothing...They believe they are god's gift to our city. Well, they are not. I don't think God made that type of Assholes!

I've attended CZ at least 200 times, I've never witnessed any violence, anyone hurt, anyone needing medical care or anything negative whatsoever. It is an amazing place to dance and meet fun people. Long live Comfort Zone.

I'm not a patron of CZ, but what upsets me is that this was a raid... on space that I perceived to be safe place to experience to escape life. People choose to go that private space, with a like minded community of people that choose that option. The individuals that were at that space on Mar. 16, 2008 at 6:00am were dancing to music that took them to another level. Some were there not using too, unlikely but so.

The idea marketed and sold that drugs are bad; well not all drugs? but those drugs that don?t cure, but that make your mind go to another space and time? that make you see things and feel things totally different. That white powder that you sniff that you know will take you out of the world and make you feel alive, then will make you feel the exact opposite? those tablets of ecstasy? that?s just wrong to feel, and to enjoy. Yeah, that?s completely wrong. Yeah, should totally be avoided and we should lock up all those people that were there a supporting a local club and subject them to searches, harassment, scorn, because when we do? we will live in a safer world? because those people had $35,000 to seize and some of the tablets to a different type of life.

Maybe targeting individuals is the way for the target (aka WAR) on DRUGS should work to knock out this terrible drug issue this country faces. But maybe we should, have a raid on every single residence and maybe every single car and person should be searched daily at every corner to sniff out this terrible, terrible problem. Or maybe we should just get on with it? education is the key. Establish rules, and sell it, at the local drug store? think of the profits? and creating safe places.

The people that don?t want to, don?t have to? those that choose can. Period, let?s start focusing on other issues and problems. Drugs are not going away today.

Of course, Rick, drugs are illegal. You tell me that that today's CZ Sunday crew are concealing what they do? It's out in the open for everyone to see. Finally the cops are doing something to stop street level drug trading! That's why they have a DRUG SQUAD. And about murders being committed... That's a different dept. Same with speeding... They have other cops for that!!!!

Ban me? I would not be caught dead in that place! Christ I grew out of that when it was still cool. You are simply lying. There is an EMS team there every weekend, just because you throw them out as they OD does not mean that they had nothing to do with your club. The fact that you get them far away enough from the door to make it not your problem is disgusting. If you really do work there you know how disgusting of a place it is, wake up and get a life, there is a lot more to this beautiful world then getting high in a dirty dark basement, and or living off the avails. You are truly pathetic and I wish you would get some help. No normal/sane person works in that environment unless they are there trying to help people like one of the earlier posters who hands out condoms.

They only bust illegal drugs because they can't tax them.

Anyone can over-dose on pharmasudicals just as easily and as horribly as street drugs.

It's all about the mooolah, which the cops got anyways. They robbed CZ's safe and instead of finding drugs, they found money.

So in the long run, they earned some easy cash that day, beating up people and groping women.

GG, the cops wasted their time and our tax dollars by raiding CZ yesterday. When Toronto hosts an AC/DC concert - do you know that they (the cops) can seize way over $35,000 worth of drugs and they know it. These venues should be left alone. This raid was percipitated by the pressure from a family that lost their son to drugs - that's BS - leave us alone. These are way better ways to get drugs out of our community and it starts with education.

exuser you're an idiot and very ignorant to say that any patron or staff of CZ is not normal or sane. It shows who the truly insane one is here - you are buddy

Police allege staff members at the nightspot were participating in the drug dealing, and authorities are currently working to have it closed down permanently.

"Drugs were being used openly, drugs were being sold openly. Tables were being set up like flea markets, where people could look at what they wanted to buy," Roseto alleges.

Fazio's heartbroken family spoke at the press conference.

"At the beginning of the year my brother was introduced to the drug called GHB. On January 27th after having a good night out with friends, he ended up taking GHB and overdosing.I don't want another family to feel the way we feel. I'm very happy that a place like this has been closed down," said Andrew's sister Sarah.

"Is life so bad that you have to take these drugs to disappear for a while?" questioned his grieving mother Karen. "This cost me my son. Until you lose a child you don't know just how bad it is. He made a big mistake.
http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_20699.aspx

It is what IT IS people.

@ Rick
Someone choking at Duff's on a chicken wing is a little differnt then a 40 year old man choking on his own vomit due to drug use and then being dragged to some demented "G'ed out room".

People do drugs and die, people walk across the street and die - who cares. The boy dieing has nothing to do with CZ. Yes we openly use drugs at CZ - we also openly use drugs at a heavy metal concert at the Air Canada centre. This will always go on - it you don't want to attend shut up and stay home.

Rick, be honest with yourself. Would you like your younger brother party at CZ till 6pm after being up all night! What if he was the one who died? How would your mother feel about that? How would you be able to cope with all this going on? You people should wake up! It's not about some rich family being the focus of reasoning for this raid. It's about morality! I've been to 488 since it was the Buzz! The place has always been a dark and dirty breeding ground for sketch! I would not want my kids going to do or see what I did there! I truly do regret it! After the party - Go home and sleep! Recreational drugs should be used in moderation... Not in the excessive manner they are done there!

I love how people get upset because thier favorite drug den gets shut down but have no sympathy for a mother that lost her child.

apetimberlake: Nobody forced the 40 year old man to take G. Why is the fact that he took G the CZ's fault - he would gave taken G weather CZ was around or not? If he was at home alone vomiting on his puke he would have died. If anything he was saved by the staff at CZ

Alright, I can't take it anymore. For people who are Zoners, you're going to find out who i am right now.

I have worked way too fucking hard, CLEANING that damn place for a few years, and fighting for a bouncer's position which was finally granted to me about half a year ago.

I take my job extremely seriously. We take care of people doing drugs there and when they show signs of Od'ing, we babysit them. We make sure they don't choke on their own vomit. We give them drinks, and we don't let them go home until we decide that they are sober.

We take care of our customers. Now imagine, I cleaned that fucking place, okay.

I CLEANED, that place for almost two years. You think i would back up CZ if i truely thought it was horrifying shithole?

Get real. CZ is by far a responsible, professional club.

I remember passing out in a toilet bowl at kathedral, piss drunk and they threw me right out.

I could of died from alcohol poisoning for all I knew, That's how they handle their customers.

Fazio's family can burn in hell. The club did nothing to their son, he did it to himself.

It proves how fucking stupid the Fazio family truly is for trying to blame their own son's incompetence, and their flawed parenting on CZ.

Fazio's, Fuck you.

GG drugs are not necessarily done in excess there, that is your assumption and you are sterotyping. Many do it in moderation and enjoy the music and dance. I hear what you are saying, that losing a family member would give a different prospective. I just believe CZ has absolutely nothing to do with the problem of people dieing from drug use - it will happen somewhere anyways. I've also attended 488 since BUZZ and as you may see it as a dark and dirty place, my experiences have always been positive, bright, loving, happy and friendly there at CZ.

Rick:

But the fact of the matter is that you need to stop living in denial.
Your trying to tell us that the atmosphere of drug abuse in that place is acceptable because CZ did not sell people drugs directly..
Common...This is a business....The owner makes cash from people using the club as a drug den.

slugzkea:
You need to keep it together...

Sane people do not work in that environment. A sane person may walk in there as a patron, but no sane person would expose themselves to that type of degradation for a living. I know a lot of people who have worked there over the years. I have a very intimate knowledge of this particular establishment and the fact that it has been allowed to stay operation to this point is appalling. If the death of this poor young man is what starts the public outcry to have this dump shut down for good so be it, but it needs to be done one way or another.

apetimberlake: then we will need to close every club in the city, because I've used and have found drugs in abundance in every club I've attended in Toronto. The only reason why CZ gets all the attention is because its one of the only clubs open in the early mornings.

i started going to comfort zone in 1998. that was my first time.i recently went back for new years eve of 2008. it was fucking amazing. i felt like iwas 19 again.when i went back i was 29. i have so many good memories from that place. friendly people. amazing music. dance for 15 hours straight. this guy who died. the whole reason why they had this stupid raid. you can purchase ghb anywhere. and anyone who mixes drugs or does to much is taking a risk. no one is shoving ghb down anyones throat. people make there own choices. u cant blame a club for someones death. because they are gona get the drugs in or outside of the club. over the years i have known many people that i used to hang out with to od and shit and die. i feel so sorry for them but its there own fault. just as long as you monitor your drug use and do it properly u can get fucked up and have a good time. this idiot who left some comment about how he used to go there a long time ago. now he is older and has a university education go fuck yourself k u fucking idiot. and all this happened because of this dumb bitch and her brother dieing. allbecause of her. comfort zone will still live. will never die. and i will still go back. fuck you all who think diff.

Yay!! This is the best thing to happen in TO for a long time!! So a bunch of losers get busted for drugs and having proceeds. Some of them were busted for immigration problems....but, let's forget that minor transgression. It's the drugs that I want to focus on! Let me say this again...YAY!!!!!!!!! it's about time! Wonderful news! Thank you Metro police! Keep up the good work. And to those who got busted....sucks to be you, eh? Shoulda practiced "reality" before it came up and bit ya. No sympathy here - and likely none to be had except from your loser friends. One more time - YAY!!!!

I love our boys and girls in blue....! Good Job!!

Rick, You have to understand, it is a HEAT SCORE! (to put in layman's terms) My issue is that it should have never been taken for granted! When you party there till late, the last concern is how many drugs you do. You just want to prolong the high. That's where the problem starts! That's how CZ promotes excessive drug use! Plain and simple! Go the fuck home. Sleep... Live another day! To party another day!

apetimberlake. hun why dont you shut up and go fuck yourself you idiot. people sneak drugs into every club.you call it a dump. your mother probably had you in a fucking dump you asshole. that guy died because he is stupid and did to much drugs. get a life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I need to keep it together?

You didn't lose your job because of some spoiled brat.

GG, you may want to go the fuck home and you should - you can't handle it. I will party till the next day and beyond at CZ or wherever else I so please. That's ridiculous - you trying to tell me when my party should end. That's none of your business. And weather CZ is open or not, the party will continue. Therefore, CZ has nothing to do with promoting excessive drug use - that's ridiculous. WAKE UP - it's personal choice - weather the CZ is open or not there will always be those who party this way and find somewhere to do it.

I have been going to CZ for about two years. Love that place and I always will. Do you think this is the only place you can abtain a controlled substance? What about the bust on Queen East last week? The Guvernment? Drugs can easily be obtained in and outside the clubs. The raid sunday will not stop anything that has been going on. One club closes and two open up with same access to the same shit. To the family that lost their son, yes, that was very tragic. How much fucking GHB did he consume? What about the old guy who began to vomit? I was there, I saw him sitting on the chair passing out. People tend to consume drugs and they have no fucking idea what to expect. People mix shit without knowing the effects. I have gone to CZ and stayed completely sober several times. There are much worse consumables than what was uncovered at CZ.

Slugzkea??? Can't you get a job somewhere else!?! A kid has died from over-dose and you show no remorse. Are you still fucking high?

My goodness! Look at all the spelling and grammatical errors on so many of these posts.

Seems the drug users are all quite dumb - and those smart enough to NOt do drugs are quite, uh,....smart! Makes sense, eh? makes me wonder what these people do for a living? bet they aren't brain surgeons or pilots. Likely working (IF they are working at all...) at places where they are paid by cheque that can be directly taken to a Money-Mart. Prove me wrong.

corey hun do you have a life. wait let me guess you are some boring student. thats probably not that great looking. has no life probably no girlfriend cause your dick is thin like a pencil.or your fat and fucking ugly. keep your stupid comments to yourself. some people love going there . maybe its not your type of thing. but it is for alot of other people. go jerk off to some porn or something u idiot. i know all the security there some are my friends. and fuck would love for you to say that shit to there faces u would get fucking pumbled. loser . that place will reopen . if not there some where else. so all of you people who think what happened was good.think again. cause that place willalways be around....

You all don't get it. Slugzea, the Comfort Zone or anyone of its staff has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH THE DEATH OF SOME KID. Weather he purchased the drugs there or not, he would have abused drugs and died. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH CZ.

ahhh gay boy does this look like a fucking english class. i dont think people are here for english study. why dont u shut up and go stick your dirty cock up some guys ass you fucking fag!!!

Of course i can get a job somewhere else, but what i worked so hard for and fought for was taken away so quickly for the wrong reasons.

It was my favorite job, if you lost your favorite job because of some spoiled moron you would feel the same way I would.

In the long run, I didn't lose my job, because the club didn't get shut down. It's being repaired as we speak, I just lost a few pay cheques that's all.

so HAH! ha, ha, ha...CZ lives.

Mr Nine... You've said it all! :) Too many drugs will mess you up! Party till you drop Rick! Cheers :p

CZ is a place to get high nothing more, has been for a long time. Leann you are suffering from Euphoric Recollection. That means you are only remembering the good stuff that happened when you were "dancing for fifteen hours straight." The fact that you are thirty years old and attack a dead boy and his family because you are concerned about the loss of an environment shows how truly sick you are. There is a place call the Center for Addiction and Mental Health quite close to CZ, you should check it out.

Thanks GG I will. Keep on with your boring miserable life. Later

Actually, that occured to me as well. The hardcore (ahem!) CZ supporters seem a little inept at basic English writing skills.

Coincidence?

Yeah a kid died from an overdose and damn right I'm not showing remorse, because he died due to his own fucking stupidity.

I don't sympathize for morons. It's like when you see people tripping over a curb because they don't look at where they are walking.

To me, it's one less inferior being off the planet, which is what we need.

yessss bflo. thankyou . people make there own choices. what do you guys not understand. its anyones own fault to consume to much drugs . doing drugs is like a game. there are rules. and if you dont go by the rules you pay. and sometimes it causes death. but we all know this. so people stop blaming this shit on cz. and get a fucking life....

No problem Rick...lol Think of me when you do your next bump :)

exuser: don't tell me or anyone else why we go to CZ - it is not about getting high stupid. You don't know why we go you ignorant fuck! Just stay home and don't come near the place and shut the fuck up. Why do you care if there is a place where druggies can go and kill themselves (since that's what you think is happening there)? You should be happy.

^^^^
What the hell is the matter with this guy?

Sorry GG I won't be thinking of you, trust me

Sorry that was meant for slugzkea :()

hey apetimberlake you haven't said much but "whats the matter with this guy". And you were quickly burned on every other stupid comment you made, so why don't you get off here - no one cares what ur saying

slugzkea:??
The CAMH on Queen west is about a 20 Min street car ride..Check yourself in

Rick.
You burned me?
By saying its "my" right to sit around like an idiot and get wasted in a dump.
Fuck off.

Rick Rick Rick Rick Rick.... Take a deep breath! We still love you! To all who do party! Do it responsibly! That is all from me! :)

Har har har I'm quite aware where CAMH is since I work and live in the area, you fucking moron.

Why don't you stick to the topic and stop being so bias.

RICK...
P.L.U.R.

byebye

excuser you know what the funny thing is.i finished high school. i went to college.and i just turned 29.im not 30. pls there are people that go there that are well over 40 years old. i dont even do drugs. haha you fucking idiot. why dont you go back to the dumb where your mother had you. let me guess your mother fucked her brother and that s where you came from.i wasnt even there yesterday havnt been there since new years. you idiots who keep on blaming this shit on the club your fools. get a fucking life . that place is wicked. and oh well some guy died his own fucking fault. that stupid bitch ruined it for hundereds of people. if people cant do drugs properly dont do them at all. its there own faults . exscuser hun. let me guess your dick is small. and your fucking ugly. so there for you need to make stupid comments. why dont you go and shove your small dick up your ass. you fucking loser. or go fuck your mom im sure you like to keep it in the family

The fact of the matter is I do not want to see people die. I know all about dependency and how deadly it is. I will let you guess what I do for a living **hint hint.** People will do drugs. The issue is that CZ has been allowed to survive for so long. Too open. Too obvious. Too well known. How many people have had their first "taste" there, leading to their eventual downfall. That is why these places must be closed. They cannot be accepted as a normal part of the community, unless they are controlled and monitored in some way. The place is just a free for all. Can't be allowed to happen. We need to have proper safe sites with staff that are trained properly so that less people die.

tripper hun does this look like a fucking english class you u fucking idiot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BTW intelligent argument Leann.

excuser hun no one cares what you think. you loser. go get your small dick extended and maybe you can get some pussy. or better yet get a broom handle and shove it up your ass you fag. people dont just go there to do drugs ive gone there many times and just drink. get a life. people go there for the music#1. friendly people. no one cares hun. i have no remorse for people who abuse and do to much drugs there just stupid. oh well. cant wait for comfort zone to reopen. gona be just as good as it was befor. and if it doesnt open there it will come where else. comfort zone will always live excuser , tripper timberlake go fuck yourself. k

slugzkea hun i totally agree with you hun. these people are idiots. if you work there im glad you are ok . u must be one of the sexy surbian guys that work there hehe. hope the boys are all ok.loveeee denny. anways ive had enough of these small dicked idiots.trying to say bad shit when no one cares what they say.hmm where to go this weekend maybe film lounge???

People pay me for my opinion, and you get paid to do what exactly?

You hit all the classy places eh Leann?

FYI, 29 is a little old for that scene.

are you kidding me. anyguy i ever meet at film is well into there 30s. your talking like im some old gramma to old to party im fucking 29 just turned. hun maybe you are fucking ugly. have no friends,no life, and a small cock. so maybe now your a fag. that only takes it up the ass. nothing u can say will ever make me think that im to old to be at a bar like that . your just talking nonsence. hun its ok if you have no life and a small dick. that doesnt mean other people dont want to have fun and party and have a life. its ok hun that you have and no life i would be upset about stuff to . its ok u can cry on my shoulder boo hoo cry me a river justing timberlake

I used to go to CZ a long long time ago and it used to be about the music, but it somewhere along the way became the place to go to see how messed up you could get. I once went to get "security" to help some guy G-ing out and was told by this staff "Just give him a bump of coke" Now granted I was a bit of a novice and had no idea where to even get it from, but it seemed to me that this guy needed medical help and not more chemicals. But that is just my opinion, what do I know? For staff to say it is a reputable club is silly. CZ holds some very fond memories but it is a dump. I have photos from back in the days and the chairs are filthy, the are G-tards everywhere. The quality of the atmosphere at CZ greatly deteriorated over the years. Unfortunately I think the club has used up it's life span as it is now known, whether staff wants to admit it a place to see how high you can get and most of the patrons in there now are just plain scary. If people are still happy there and think it is reputable it is probably because they are looking through rose coloured drug clouded glasses and can't see the place for what it has really become. It would be nice to see the Zone get cleaned up a bit from this and return to a place with the best banging beats in town!!! Still you'd never catch me back there again. Maybe it's just because I've come to realize I just have too much class!! I feel for the family thqat lost there son but truth be told CZ as scungey as it is, is not the one to blame. He made his choice and unfortunately he paid for his poor choices with his life! My hearts go out to his family though!

When you work with people everyday who are dying from their dependency issues you earn a right to an opinion. As far as too old, you should be old enough to realize that that lifestyle is no good at 29 years old or "well into your thirties." If you do not there is a cognitive problem. Reality is a bitch, but CZ should be shut down for good and the rantings of the lunatics on this blog testify to the level of sickness the average patron of this establishment is suffering from. Thank you for the testimonial.

Leann u r a complete moron!!! Low life!!! Your brain is the size of a peanut IF u got one.

exuser: because you work with addicts, you are also providing a biased opinion here. The patrons of CZ are not neccesarily addicts with dependancy issues - you know that. And CZ does not contribute to the problem of addiction whatsoever. Go to Parkdale and Driftwood (to name a couple of places) and you will see what contributes to addiction. CZ is a place for music and dance for peoples of a scene which also includes drinking and the use of other substances - MOST OF THE TIME RESPONSIBLY

Someone lost a job, someone lost a son/brother, YOU BOTH blame someone else for it SO GET A GRIP OF YOURSELF.

The fact is: Slugzea, the Comfort Zone or anyone of its staff has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH THE DEATH OF SOME KID. Weather he purchased the drugs there or not, he would have abused drugs and died. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH CZ.

The percentage of my clients who have at one time or another frequented CZ would disprove your opinion Rick. Like it or not it is a bad place, and cannot be accepted as part of the community because the management has not made any reasonable effort to limit the drug use and have made every effort to encourage it. Example; turning up the lights when the cops walk in, are you going to try to say they do not do that sort of thing? Bouncers using the radio to warn each other and the dealers when the cops come. The green room or the "g'ed out room". The "men" who work there are digesting for the things that have happened in that room while young women are passed out. The men are robbed and thrown out when they pass out. I am sorry I have heard the same story from too many victims for it not to be true. I know the reality, and denying it will not disprove it.

I have to agree with excuser. My example above...I went to staff to get help for a man I didn't know and I was encouraged to give him more drugs rather than seek him medical help. While not all staff that work there are bad,there were and I am sure still are a few that are NOT on the up and up. To say that there are NEVER any OD's is a blatant lie as I KNOW for a fact as I am good freinds with some one who used to be security there that they happen alot. ALot more than people are admitting there and until management and staff do something to change the reputation of CZ from a "place to get Messed up" to a place to here amazing dj's Like Miss Blu people should not be surprised or upset when they go qand get busted. It's time to openb your eyes people and wake up. I now live on the opposite end of the country and when I mention CZ to people here, people who have NEVER been to CZ they know it as place to get really really high. Not as a club that has killer beats. SO lie to yourselves if you wish but even other provinces know of CZ's lousy reputation!!!!

Slugzfugz- whatever the fuck your name is - you have no sympathy for a "spoiled brat" that was enabled to do drugs at your work? Well, I have no sympathy for you for having lost your job at a shit hole that turned a blind eye to open drug trafficking.

The place was a haven for drug dealers and all those that were exploited and bought off by them. END OF FUCKING STORY.

Sure, the clubs are on Richmond may be obnoxious but it is not nearly as bad. No doubt, if two or three people died from openly buying and consuming drugs in Tonic or whatever it's called now, the police would cave to public pressure.

if u know of any bars/club that is drug free, please let me know.

The amount of comments is just unbelievable.

exuser: I'm not denying that drugs are used there. That's the point - the point is we should have places like this. It's good that CZ warned the patrons when cops were there by putting up the lights, its a good thing they have a G-out room - these things help. If women were abused while G'd out that's a different story - those are disgusting fuckers, which by the way you will find in every circle in life. Do you not believe that one could drink responsibly? Are you aware that their is rampant, open drug use at a heavy metal concert at Air Canada Centre? The point is you will not stop this, drug use will go on. And like CZ there are other after hours and normal clubs where these acttivites take place. If anything CZ was the most responsible, because it was aware.

I'd like to thank many of you for the incentive to never do drugs again.

The g-out room is not good. Warning the dealers and users is not good. When someone is g-ing out they need medical attention, not a dark room and a bump. What planet are you on? FYI, I don't believe in drinking either. Alcohol does way more damage then good, just like illicit drugs. As far as the ACC thing, try comparing apples to apples. CZ is same place same people every weekend something can easily be done. Yes, people are going to use drugs at clubs, but CZ has taken it to a different level that is not acceptable. That is why it should be shut down for good.

People are once again missing the point. Yes other clubs have drug usage...however security does not encourage it at them. They do regular walk throughs and in not one of them except for at CZ can you see people doing lines off of a dirty end table. It isn't even hidden at CZ. It is out in the open because it is excepted by staff. Other clubs don't have a G-out room. They get the person the medical attention THEY NEED. Come on peole get realistic. CZ is not a good place. Lots of my friends USED to go there and none of do anymore because ONLY HARDCORE drug users go there! EVERONE knows that. Just ask around! I would certainly not be proud of the fact that I was still a patron in this day and age. It just tells us of us who and what you are. Quit defending the place. It is time it got busted, and time it got cleaned up if not closed. It is NOT a reutable club at all and most of the security were/are thugs. Come out of your drug enduced fog, take off your tinted glasses and go check out it out sober!! I guarantee you won't go back! it's scary!

Angel and exuser you are obviously ignorant to reality. The reality is DRUGS ARE BEING USED AT CLUBS - WAKE THE FUCK UP! The other clubs hide knowing this fact while at CZ it is open and accepted. Hence, when you use drugs at a club which is pretending to be blind to it, it puts the patrons in danger, while using drugs in a place like CZ where it is known makes for a safer environment. The people know how to handle the situation, THEY ARE AWARE instead of trying to pretend its not happening. I've frequented CZ for over 10 years going back to the true rave days when the place was known as BUZZ. I have only witnessed RESPONSIBLE DRUG USE, loving, caring people, a positive environment with 0 (ZERO) deaths or health incidents. That's why its been open this long - it is a safe place, it is open and we are all aware, making it safer. You are making up stories saying drugs are sold like at a flea market and saying we are doing lines off dirty tables. THAT IS BS - spread your bullshit rumours somewhere else. I know whats going on I see it every week.

exuser: if you knew anything real about G you would know that G'ing out is a normal part of its usage (by just an incremently high dose) this is caused. You would also know, and this has been proven by doctors, that the G-out is a completely safe coma state - this has been medically tested and proven. Therefore, a G-out room in a place where it is known G is being used is not only good, but critically important. Once again, WAKE THE FUCK UP!

after going through this ordeal on my first ever night out to comfort zone, a lot of thought, a lot of reading and a lot of researching - this is my conclusion, CZ is the Hell and the police (not everyone but most) were the devils. it's a dog eat dog world, and we got caught in the middle.

The Police realizes they did something wrong, otherwise they wouldn't have dragged out the family in their press conference, (i.e. look at other criminal investigation and their press conferences, there's so many holes in their version of the story). It was too much force, when most of the patrons didn't even have any drugs or records they could impose a charge on. 150 people in there were treated like criminals even before they were searched and processed; even criminals have rights (innocent until proven guilty in a court of law in front of your peers and a judge).

The club is obviously fcked as well if and as they facilitated drugs for a decade, there police were obviously in on it if it went on that long. there's an underlying message after all has been said and done a/ the police will and did get away with brutality towards regular people b/ they still can't and ultimately won't close down the club. So what was the point?

I am shaken and angry, but i don't know where to point my finger! sure you can accuse me for walking into a place which was fully licensed for after hours dancing and I guess it doesn't even matter that i am fulltime working professional in the financial district, university educated, pay my taxes, have no previous run in with the law and wasn't under the influence of anything legal or illegal.

In all fairness, I was probably treated better than everyone else in there but what i saw the police doing in there broke my trust in the system and has scarred me beyond repair. My guy friends who were also not in possession, nor did they have any previous record were kicked around, and my girlfriend was felt up by a cop. If it wasn't for a good cop who processed me, i would have faced the same brutality.

This is the most fucked up and neutral account of what really happened in there Sunday morning.

Mean-spirited alcoholic Pigs, seriously addicted to paycheques, really think they're REALLY doing society a favour? DOPE IS HOPE.....not that lousy poison the LCBO sells you, to screw up on, that keeps Pigs, lawyers, insurance companies and jailers employed...NOTHING scares the Pigs, like a large group of people having a good time!

Bunch of fucking losers at all raves and especially to all the fucking left wingers who hate the police and were at the club that morning - none of you bleeding heart assholes obviously have kids or careers otherwise you wouldn't have the time to stay up all night and get high till noon the next day. "The cops did this and the cops did did that", blah, blah, blah. I think they should let you do whatever the hell you want in your precious little club and hopefully you freeloading useless shitheads will all end up on a slab in the morgue. Hey, take all the drugs you want! (PS: Go kill yourself you snivelling little prick who blames the victims mom for all this...people like you are exactly the problem with Toronto today)

wow jm I can't believe that your 1st visit there was experienced by that BS that took place yesterday. I am also a fulltime working professional who pays my taxes and has no serious run-ins with the law. I can tell you that my experiences at CZ have all been positive and I always regreted that it had to come to an end. My objective: dance, dance and dance some more and oh ya, meet gorgeous women!

"tripper hun does this look like a fucking english class you u fucking idiot!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

No. It looks more like Special Ed.

I've been going to comfort zone for 8 years but I went on maternity leave, Zone will allways deliver the best music, i have gone to alot of clubs in my time and by far Zone has allways given me the best experience. However it's sad that someone had to lose their life, you cant blame the club for someone putting something in their body... Just no how much to take... i hope that zone open's sooner than later

howie i am an investment banker for a huge bank in downtown Toronto and i was in there randomly. You can't make a judgment call on everyone in there, believe me if we were all druggies and drug dealers than out of 200 people in there only 33 wouldn't be charged; not to mention half the charges were possession and immigration. These offenses in a court look like babies compared to what goes on in the city, i.e. shooting, rape, gang violence, robbery, corporate crimes etc.

I've done lines off the tables there Rick with people on the couch next to me having sex. Yes it is dirty but I am not afraid to admit it because I have dedicated my life to making a difference. I've been in dependent individuals shoes and have recovered. Again you are just full of shit. No coma state is perfectly safe. Do you get your info from some ravers website or something? Take a course, read a medical book before you start talking shit. Yes a clean safe environment is needed for people to use drugs in, unfortunately CZ is neither clean nor safe. I know how to make G, I know the effect and t