JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Arlington residents report that high-volume music, vehicle engines, and gunfire are disrupting their sleep, pointing to a nearby establishment as the source. Records from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office show law enforcement has received 13 service calls to the address of the Black Sheep bar and lounge since July.
The Black Sheep bar and lounge operates Thursday through Sunday until 2 a.m. Sheriff’s office records for the establishment’s address show calls for six noise complaints, one disagreement, and one incident involving the firing of weapons.
Kaseem Tarver, an Arlington resident who lives one block from the establishment, said the disruption impacts neighbors trying to sleep late into the night. “Loud music from the club and loud music for people with subwoofers in their car out of loud speakers,” Tarver said. He added that the noises extend beyond music to vehicle traffic and gunfire. “There was an instance of gunshots, and you would hear, sort of like cars racing,” Tarver said.
Tarver noted that noise issues frequently extend past the bar’s closing time. “You really couldn’t get sleep because, you know, playing loud music and doing all kinds of nonsense till 3 a.m.,” Tarver said. He urged attendees to show more consideration for the surrounding community. “I would say be mindful of everybody else sleeping, so don’t rev your engines or play loud music after 12 o’clock at night,” Tarver said.
In a statement to Action News Jax, management for Black Sheep bar and lounge said the disturbances occur outside the building. “The disturbances we are aware of have occurred outside the establishment, in surrounding parking areas and on nearby public streets.”
“We are committed to reviewing our current security procedures, evaluating our exterior security presence, strengthening crowd-control practices during peak business hours and improving how we monitor guest departures and activity in areas where we have the authority to intervene,” management stated.
Management for the Black Sheep bar added that the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has not had to enter the establishment to address any of the incidents.
The business stated it plans to request and review these calls for service.
Here is the full statement from Black Sheep Bar & Lounge management:
We understand that the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has documented 13 calls for service associated with our business address since July, and we want to make it clear that we take this information and the concerns of surrounding residents very seriously.
However, we also recognize that calls for service can involve a variety of circumstances and do not automatically establish wrongdoing or responsibility on the part of an establishment.
We would also like to clarify an important distinction regarding the reported incidents.
To our knowledge, JSO has not had to enter Black Sheep Bar & Lounge to address any of the incidents being discussed. The disturbances we are aware of have occurred outside the establishment, in surrounding parking areas and on nearby public streets.
We believe this distinction is important because incidents occurring in the surrounding area should not automatically be attributed to our establishment without establishing a direct connection.
That being said, we do not want our response to be interpreted as dismissing the concerns of our neighbors or avoiding responsibility. We understand that operating a nightlife establishment comes with an obligation to be proactive about safety, security, and the overall impact our business may have on the surrounding community.
The safety of our patrons, employees, neighboring businesses, and surrounding residents is, and will continue to be, a top priority.
We do not condone gun violence, reckless driving, excessive disturbances, or any behavior that threatens public safety, regardless of whether those actions occur inside our establishment or in the surrounding community.
As management, we recognize that simply acknowledging these concerns is not enough. We must also be proactive in identifying opportunities to strengthen our security measures and help prevent future disturbances.
We are committed to reviewing our current security procedures, evaluating our exterior security presence, strengthening crowd-control practices during peak business hours, and improving how we monitor guest departures and activity in areas where we have the authority to intervene.
We also intend to reinforce communication with our security personnel regarding the importance of identifying potential disturbances early, documenting incidents, and contacting law enforcement whenever circumstances require their assistance.
Additionally, we welcome the opportunity to communicate directly with JSO, city officials, neighboring businesses, and surrounding residents to better understand their concerns and work toward practical solutions that promote a safer environment for everyone.
Regarding the 13 documented calls for service, we intend to formally request and review those records to better understand the dates, locations, circumstances, and findings associated with each incident. This will allow us to determine whether there are specific issues we can address through additional security measures or operational improvements.
We understand that our responsibility as a business extends beyond simply providing entertainment. We want to be a positive contributor to the Jacksonville community, maintain respectful relationships with our neighbors, and operate an establishment where people can enjoy themselves responsibly and safely.
We are not asking for the concerns of residents to be overlooked. In fact, we welcome constructive criticism and believe that open communication and accountability are essential to improving any business.
What we are asking for is fairness, accuracy, and a clear distinction between verified incidents directly involving our establishment and activities occurring in surrounding areas that may be outside our control.
We respectfully request that this context be included in tonight’s reporting so viewers receive a complete and balanced understanding of the situation.
We remain committed to taking these concerns seriously, evaluating our security practices, cooperating with local authorities, and doing our part to promote a safer environment for everyone.
Thank you again, Jasmine, for reaching out and allowing us the opportunity to respond. We appreciate your commitment to fair reporting and hope this communication demonstrates that Black Sheep Bar & Lounge management is approaching these concerns with genuine care, professionalism, and a willingness to take meaningful action.
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