Newark Police allegedly raided a recent Newark rave headlined by world-renowned DJ Frankie Bones. The warehouse dance party was in full swing when chaos erupted. According to EDM Identity (a website dedicated to electronic dance music culture), videos taken during the melee appear to show authorities slamming Bones into the wall.
“An hour into my set, a guy in tactical gear comes up from behind and pushes me aside and is fucking with the mixer,” Frankie Bones told EDM Identity. “Never said he was a cop. Never said a word. I get in front of him and he grabs me and pushes me into the wall behind me.”
The warehouse party was organized by Nocturnal Creature Society (NCS) and began at 10 p.m. with several DJs having sets before the headliner. According to attendees, officers turned up at 12:30 a.m. “to check for trespassing.” The organizers showed their rental agreement and allege that police attempted to intimidate them but “had no legal reason to enter.”
At approximately 2 a.m., undercover officers purportedly entered the party without showing badges or asking NCS to turn off the music. Video appears to show one officer roughhousing Frankie Bones while other officers approached another attendee.
One event participant who preferred to remain anonymous texted EDM Identity that officers were “swarming every room searching everyone they could, including me.” They further texted that they walked outside with friends and saw performing artist Astrid and much of the security team detained by authorities.
According to Resident Advisor, one of those arrested, Alex Shtaerman, could face felony assault charges. He allegedly tried to pull the officer off of Bones, unaware that the man was a police officer. He also alleges he fell to the floor and was attacked by additional officers and sustained significant injuries.
“All of a sudden I felt all these people attacking, kicking me and punching me,” Alex told Resident Advisor. “Never did I hear anyone say, ‘Stop, police!’ Not once.” Shtaerman has set up a fundraiser to cover legal and medical costs.
In an email sent to EDM Identity, the Newark PD confirmed that two people were arrested on the scene and events that night remain under investigation.
In a statement, NCS fired back “This was not about safety. This was about intimidation. They chose force over communication. They targeted a peaceful, organized event. We will not be intimidated. Rave is not a crime.”
Headliner Frankie Bones offered an official statement on Facebook a week after the event, “The mishandling of this situation literally comes down to one undercover officer. By coming up behind me without warning and shoving me with force to gain control over the sound system? Never showed a badge, never said a word and far worse, did not shut the music off. This one officer’s actions put the lives of hundreds of party goers & his team in a deadly situation.”
Frankie Bones (real name Frankie Mitchell) is a superstar in the electronic dance community. He’s been called “Godfather of American Rave Culture” and has been spinning records since the 80s. The Brooklyn-born DJ has performed at festivals and clubs all over the world.
NCS has started a GoFundMe to “Rebuild & Keep the Underground Alive.” They provided more information on the page to clarify their version of events that night, “During a peaceful rave, armed Newark Police raided our event. No warning. No badges. No cause. Two were arrested. Hundreds were traumatized. This wasn’t a reckless pop-up. It was on private land, with licensed security and on-site EMTs. We took care of our people. What we didn’t expect was a militarized response. This raid damaged our gear, hit us with unexpected fines, and drained critical resources. Leaving us scrambling to regroup in time for the festival we’ve been working so hard to bring to life.”
For more than four decades, electronic dance fans have gathered in basements, warehouses, abandoned buildings and clubs all over the world to celebrate the pulsating, pounding freedom of the music and commune over their love of the beat. Whether you call it house, techno, dubstep, EDM, jungle, breakbeat, drum and bass, or trance, the message has always been about a community gathering to enjoy the music and dance the night away.
Frankie Bones offered one parting thought to Newark police, “I respect law enforcement and understand their department just lost a fellow officer in the line of duty. It’s tragic & respect & peace. Peace being the keyword in a city that seems not to have any.”
To repeat NCS, rave is not a crime. In Newark, like in so many cities, the battle over space isn’t just about development but also freedom. New Jersey’s underground music scene is fueled by people who could easily head to NYC or Philadelphia but choose to invest in New Jersey instead. What happened that night is a reminder that creativity and community deserve protection, no matter where they spark.
