FOREST PARK, Ga.,None — Channel 2 Action News got a firsthand look Tuesday at graphic video that the city of Forest Park says proves a business continues to operate as a strip club.
Attorneys for the Crazy Horse Saloon said the video shows inappropriate conduct but doesn't prove it's acting as a strip club.
Forest Park is attempting to shut down the Crazy Horse and the Pink Pony. It is holding a revocation hearing to yank the establishment's business and liquor licenses.
City officials said the two businesses applied for a restaurant license when the city refused to renew its adult entertainment license.
But police said the clubs haven't changed at all.
During the hearing, the city showed images from video surveillance at the Crazy Horse that showed one dancer exposing herself to customers, other dancers giving customers lap dances and touching them inappropriately.
As Forest Park Police Capt. Robert Cotrell watched video of a dancer grinding on a customer he said, "Her conduct there could constitute lewdness."
Other officers testified they went to the Crazy Horse unannounced and went to the VIP room where they saw half-dressed dancers involved in apparent sex acts with customers.
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An undercover investigator said dancers told him they could please him in the VIP room.
"She actually asked me to go into the VIP room with the other girl. The two of them," Ronnie Myers said.
All illegal, attorneys say, since the Crazy Horse is operating with a restaurant business license.
Cotrell was amazed after watching the video.
"I have never seen that in a business that I know to be licensed as strictly as a restaurant," he said
Crazy Horse attorneys said the video shows some public indecency violations and inappropriate touching but, "It doesn't make that establishment an adult entertainment club," attorney Aubrey Villines said.
Villines went on to say the city was picking on the Crazy Horse and was selectively enforcing its ordinances.
The general manager of the club, David Rashmir, said all the dancers must adhere to a strict code of conduct and have been repeatedly warned to follow the new rules.
Rashmir said he fired the dancer who was seen exposing herself on the video.
Officers said they noticed something in the video that proves the club wasn't acting as a restaurant.
"There wasn't any food on any of those tables," Cotrell testified.
The Crazy Horse disputed that saying it sells just as much food as it does alcohol.
"It's like Hooters," Rashmir said.
A hearing officer heard the case against the Crazy Horse and will hear the city's case against Pink Pony on Wednesday
They will then decide within 10 days whether to do nothing, suspend or revoke the licenses of the two businesses.