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November 8, 2007

Station evidence: Hours after, Jeffrey Derderian questioned

About 2:20 a.m., only a few hours after scores of people were killed in The Station nightclub fire, a West Warwick police detective interviewed club co-owner Jeffrey Derderian.

In the first interview, Derderian was "vague and unsure answering many questions," a police narrative released today says.

Derderian told Detective George E. Winman that at about 10 p.m. he checked with Andrea Mancini, one of those who worked the front door, about the count of people who'd come into the club. Derderian said that at that time it was approximately 250 to 260 and that he believed the club capacity was 350 to 400 with the tables removed from the building.

The fire, ignited by pyrotechnics set off by the band's tour manager, started around 11 p.m. and enveloped the club, with its fast-burning foam-coated walls, in minutes.

The police narrative goes on to say Derderian was "wasn't able to provide the last names of a number of his employees. He didn't know where the egg crate sound absorbing material had been obtained from or when. He wasn't sure if he or his brother, Michael was first to speak with someone from the band 'Great White.' He wasn't sure if he or his brother initiated the contact with the band or if the band made first contact."

The detectives asked Derderian, who was being interviewed in the nearby Cowesett Inn restaurant, to place a cell phone call to his brother and club co-owner Michael Derderian to find out the band's tour manager's name. Jeffrey Derderian answered it was Dan but did not know the last name, the narrative says.

"It was approximately 3:00 a.m. when Jeffrey placed a call. I heard Jeffrey asked if he (Michael) knew the name of the Tour Manager. Jeffrey looked at me and gave me the name Paul Barbara (spell)," Winman wrote.

Then Winman got on the cell phone to talk to Michael Derderian, asking questions such as if Derderian knew Great White intended to use pyrotechnics in the club.

"He stated that no one ever said anything to him about using pyrotechnics," Winman's narrative says, adding that that he asked Michael Derderian when he would be returning to Rhode Island and Derderian saying he was returning that day.

Jeffrey Derderian made a written statement. Then at about 3:30 a.m., the detective did a second interview with him. Derderian's father had arrived and was there during the interview.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Jeffrey Derderian said he got to the club at about 8:30 p.m and helped around the club that evening. He was at the main bar when the fire broke out.

He had negotiated a contract with a talent agent, Paul Barbaras, for Great White to perform at The Station. He recalled getting a message to call the band tour manager Daniel Biechele and asked his brother Michael to return the call.

Michael Derderian later told his brother he made the call and it was set, "meaning that he had spoken with Dan Biechele and took care of final tour arrangements," the narrative says.

The night of the concert, Jeffrey Derderian paid a $2,500 balance in cash to Biechele, who then signed the contract. Derderian said the signed copy was his receipt, which he placed in his desk at the club and was presumed lost in the fire.

Randy White, an assistant attorney general with Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch's office, asked Derderian about pyrotechnics being used in the club in the past, and Derderian said none have ever been used.

White went through different kinds: Sparklers, flash pots that sit on the floor, devices displaying open flames? Derderian "adamantly denied" the use of such pyrotechnics.

White questioned Derderian about sound-absorbing foam in the club.

"Jeffrey Derderian stated that he remembered putting up the foam," the narrative says, "but didn't remember who helped him put it up."

Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:29 PM | Permalink

November 8, 2007

Station evidence: Hours after, Jeffrey Derderian questioned

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