The Pink Pony South and Crazy Horse Saloon could lose their licenses to operate if Forest Park can prove the adult entertainment venues broke state laws and city ordinances, Channel 2 Action News reports.
“We’re going to show a pattern of illegal activity. Some of it is on video,” said Forest Park City Attorney Joe Harris. The violations, he said, “would include prostitution, gambling, sodomy (and) solicitation of prostitution.”
Additionally, he said, “at least one investigator saw a couple having sex.”
Forest Park’s investigation of the two clubs began when officers investigating a fight at the Crazy Horse looked at a surveillance video and allegedly saw illegal activity taking place. Police obtained a search warrant and seized the video.
At a hearing Thursday, the city asked the clubs to explain why their business and liquor licenses shouldn’t be revoked.
The clubs responded by asking the hearing officer to recuse himself, saying the meeting wasn't properly noticed to meet Open Records guidelines, moving to suppress the video because they said it was obtained illegally, and contending the hearing itself was unconstitutional.
Hearing officer Mike Martin said it wasn't in his purview to rule on those issues, but to hear the facts and decide whether the clubs' licenses should be revoked or suspended.
Aubrey Villines, the attorney representing the owner of both clubs, contended there was nothing illegal on the tape.
“We've looked at the videos and there's nothing there,” Villines said.
“This is the same city that saw breast feeding as illegal,” the lawyer said, referring to a public indecency ordinance passed by the Forest Park City County earlier this year that banned public breast feeding of children over the age of 2. The council subsequently dropped the ban.
Another hearing is set for Nov. 22 in Forest Park City Hall to determine the fate of the clubs' licenses.
--Channel 2 Action News reporter Tom Jones contributed to this article.
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