Armed security guards wearing body armor protected illegal OH strip club
COLUMBUS, Ohio October 17 2019
Police and several agencies have taken the steps to shut down a property it said was a lingerie store and a front for an underground strip club.
The store, called “Sexxy 4 Less” located at 1471 East Livingston Avenue, had armed security guards wearing body armor though police do not know if they had been properly licensed.
The store has been the scene of shootouts, drug deals, liquor law violations, and other crimes according to the city attorney’s office.
Columbus police began surveillance on the property, which was a front for “Club Sexxy”, earlier this summer, according to court documents, and found evidence of illegal drug and alcohol sales.
In a release, city attorney Zach Klein listed the following incidents as issues at the property:
On July 21, 2019, the city’s ShotSpotter alert system detected up to 17 shots fired in a shoot-out that wounded two individuals at the premises. A subsequent police investigation linked spent shell-casings from this incident to a homicide that occurred on June 2, 2019.
On August 31, 2019, detectives conducting an undercover investigation obtained a covert purchase of cocaine and also noted that illegal alcohol sales were taking place at the premises.
Security guards have been present during much of these illegal activities.
On September 15, 2019 one of the dancers, who claimed she was working at “an exotic dancewear party” at the club, filed a police report that her firearm was stolen from the premises.
On September 18, 2019, law enforcement officials sent a warning letter via certified mail to the property owner notifying him of his responsibility to abate the criminal nuisance activity occurring at the premises or face legal action. The letter was signed as received, but the illegal activity continued.
On September 28, 2019, the ongoing police investigation obtained a covert purchase of cocaine from the premises. Illegal alcohol sales also were still taking place.
The security guards and even the dancers were packing heat here police said.
This tells you all you need to know about the danger this illegal club posed to employees, patrons, and the residents living there,” Klein said in the release.
