Lubbock Chippendales fiasco to make national news. Again.

[Brad Johnson]

The Chippendales fiasco is back in the spotlight.  This time on 20/20.

At least the mayor and chief of police responsible for this little embarrassment are no longer in office.  Now maybe cooler heads can prevail and our city leaders will spend less time trying to be the morality police and more time actually running the city.

Brad

20-20' to revisit Lubbock's Chippendales uproar
By Robin Pyle | AVALANCHE-JOURNAL
Friday, July 18, 2008
Story last updated at 7/18/2008 - 2:58 am

Lubbock's Chippendales incident will once again be in the national spotlight.

ABC's "20/20" show will feature the February 2007 arrest of the eight male dancers and three managers during an episode called "Sex in America," due to air tonight, police officials said.

 Lubbock Police Chief Dale Holton, who was not chief at the time of the arrests, had these thoughts about the "20/20" episode: "This is 11/2 years old. This is not news."

The Lubbock Police Department gave the show a written statement about the controversial arrests that captured national attention but declined an on-camera interview, Capt. Greg Stevens said.

The statement, sent to "20/20" officials this week, reveals new details about the arrests that occurred on Feb. 16, 2007, at Jake's Sports Cafe. Officers shut down the first of three scheduled shows about half an hour into the performance, arresting the dancers on stage in front of a crowd of disgruntled women.

Officers said the show violated the city's sexually oriented business ordinance, which prohibits a sexually oriented performance without a permit, when at least one dancer "simulated a sexual act."

In the recently released statement, Stevens described the prohibited acts, which had remained vague, as the following:

"Specifically, the officer cited that one of the dancers began grinding his pelvis and genital area toward a patron's face in a manner that simulated her performing oral sex on him with the obvious intent to arouse or sexually gratify her and/or others.

Another dancer was observed by the arresting officer as he was bent over with his buttocks in the face of a customer grinding in a sexual manner as if having sex with the customer, again with the obvious intent to arouse or sexually gratify her and/or others."

The dancers and managers were jailed overnight but released the next day without bond. The Lubbock County Criminal District Attorney's Office declined to file charges in the case but did say it believed the officers had probable cause for the arrests.

[taurusowner]

I don't condone that kind of behavior, but there has to be other crimes out there that are more hurtful that the police can be focusing on.  Most department are only a handful compared to the size of the populations they serve.  I just don't believe there wasn't a robbery or beating going on somewhere at the time this arrest was occurring.

[Brad Johnson]

Most department are only a handful compared to the size of the populations they serve.  I just don't believe there wasn't a robbery or beating going on somewhere at the time this arrest was occurring.

There's more to it.  They had a large number of officers and a paddy wagon in place before the show began.  Can you say "Pre-Planned" boys and girls?  I knew you could.

It was a stunt.  They were trying to make a point about that kind of "eeeeeeevil" behavior and "those sinnin' ways" not being welcome here.  All they really did was make Lubbock a laughingstock for their overzealous holier-than-thou zeal.  It was an embarassment then, and now.

As people Mayor Miller and police chief Jones are very nice and likeable.  Unfortunately they were not good administrators.  They put ideology ahead of logic and law, something those in a governing position do not have the luxury of doing.

Brad

[Sawdust]

Then why aren't they raiding the Players Club on Avenue Q?

I'm not into strip clubs a whole lot, but a rockin' good time can be had there...

Sawdust

[Brad Johnson]

Then why aren't they raiding the Players Club on Avenue Q?

Because Players is no longer topless.  That was another of their little schemes.  The owner's permit renewal was denied because it was "incomplete" (read: clerical error because one entry was made on the wrong line).  The applicant was not told of the "error" until the deadline had passed, effectively closing the window on their ability to refile or correct any mistakes.

It happened to a couple of clubs.  One, the Boom Boom Caberet, sued.  Judge Sam Cummings ruled that non-disclosure of errors on the application (including minor grammatical ones) until after the deadline has passed did not give the applicant sufficient time to correct errors or submit missing information.  It amounted to a de facto ban on permit renewal.  The club received a monetary award as well as rembursement for all legal fees.

Brad

[Sawdust]

 

Because Players is no longer topless.

Whaaaaaaaa?!

Thanks, Brad - you have just extinguished my will to live. 

Sawdust