A Clarendon bar shut down early and crowd control was needed last weekend following a reported fight — a relatively common occurrence at the establishment.
Police were once again dispatched to Bar Bao — the site of almost 1,000 police calls for service between 2022 and 2024 — following a report of a quarrel around 8:53 p.m. on Sunday.
No one was actively fighting when authorities arrived at 3100 Clarendon Blvd, Arlington County Police Department spokesperson Kiyah Daniell told ARLnow. Police were informed that one of the people involved had left.
However, while officers were still at the scene, they saw one man “approach a group of males outside a business and engage them in a verbal dispute,” Daniell said.
“The officers attempted to have the suspect leave the area which he disregarded, and he remained aggressive towards other patrons,” she said. “As officers were taking the suspect into custody, he was noncompliant and resisted arrest.”
The 25-year-old from Woodbridge was charged with disorderly conduct, obstruction of justice and public intoxication.
The drama at Bar Bao didn’t end then, however. The establishment, which did not respond to requests for comment, chose to shut down ahead of its 2 a.m. closing time on Monday “due to a large crowd and several disorderly patrons,” Daniell said.
After that, she said Bar Bao requested help with “crowd control,” which patrol officers and officers assigned to Clarendon nightlife responded to.
Clarendon Tonight: Wow! Police just shut down Bar Bao for the night. This came shortly after at least the second fight tonight at the nightspot. In addition to the nightlife detail, at last a handful of regular patrol officers were assigned to assist. Glad to see this happening.… https://t.co/Tel0GERP0j
— Dave Statter (@STATter911) February 24, 2025
Between 2022 and 2024, ACPD responded to a total of 958 calls for service at Bar Bao — including 188 reports of disorderly conduct, 123 reports of public intoxication and 96 reports of fights.
The agency recorded 14 instances of aggravated assault and 68 instances of simple assault during this time period.
ACPD won’t close down an establishment for fights, disorderly patrons or overconsumption, Daniell clarified.
“However, if a crime has occurred in which significant crime scene processing is required, officers may temporarily close the establishment,” she said.
Rowdiness in Arlington’s nightlife district date is nothing new, with many resident complaints focusing on noise in addition to roughhousing.
In December, the county authorized overtime to allow staff from code enforcement and the fire marshal’s office to assist police in Clarendon at night and on the weekends.
