- Laura Martin
Laura Martin, the Dallas Police Department’s liaison officer to the gay community, just forwarded a statement from DPD’s vice unit that provides additional information about a controversial Oct. 8 raid of The Club Dallas that resulted in 11 arrests. The statement from the vice unit apparently seeks to dispel some of the conspiracy theories that have arisen about the raid of the gay bathhouse in Deep Ellum, including that it was designed to shut down the business to make way for redevelopment around a DART rail station, and that it was orchestrated for political purposes less than a month before an election.
The statement from DPD’s vice unit says the department received a complaint from “a citizen” related to The Club Dallas on Oct. 5, three days before the raid. “The citizen stated that the management was renting out rooms for the viewing of adult movies and use as motel rooms,” according to the statement. “The rooms were allegedly being used for sexual activities.” Martin has said that when the vice unit receives a complaint, they are bound to respond in the same way that patrol officers must respond to 911 calls.
The statement doesn’t specifically say whether the citizen was a Club Dallas member, and Martin declined to confirm this. However, given the details in the complaint about what was going on inside the club, a reasonable person might conclude that it came from a member.
Also of note in the statement, the vice unit points out that none of the arrests were made in private rooms at The Club Dallas. In other words, even though the complaint related to the use of those rooms, undercover officers who bought day memberships to the club didn’t have to take their investigation that far: “Officers observed a large number of individuals engaging in sexual activity. These acts were occurring in the public areas of the spa, which include the pool area, hallway, and other common areas.”
Dallas Voice has filed a Freedom of Information request for all records related to the raid. Among other things, the Police Department has only released reports related to three of the 11 people who were arrested.
Anyhow, here’s the full statement from DPD’s vice unit, which came across late Wednesday morning:
On October 5, 2010, the Vice Unit received a complaint from a citizen regarding an alleged sexually oriented business violation at 2616 Swiss Avenue. The citizen stated that the management was renting out rooms for the viewing of adult movies and use as motel rooms. The rooms were allegedly being used for sexual activities.
On October 8, 2010, undercover officers entered the location to investigate the allegations articulated in the citizen complaint. Officers purchased a day membership and entered the location. Officers observed a large number of individuals engaging in sexual activity. These acts were occurring in the public areas of the spa, which include the pool area, hallway, and other common areas.
Ten arrests were made for the Texas Penal Code violations of Public Lewdness and Indecent Exposure. These acts were occurring in a public place. Arrests were not made for the acts taking place in the private rooms. One arrest was made for Interference with Public Duties, Peace Officer, when the manager refused admittance to uniformed police officers responding to assist the undercover officers.
As a result of the investigation it was determined the allegations made in the citizen’s complaint were accurate. There has been no vice investigative activity or complaints received at this location in several years.
The Dallas Police Department is charged with the duty of investigating, enforcing, and responding to citizen complaints regarding sexually oriented businesses throughout the city. The Vice Unit is committed to being responsive to community concerns and thus, conducts its investigations in an equitable and just manner.
Are the names of those arrested part of public record?
Just like with the bullying tactics of the Ft Worth, TABC and Atlanta Police Departments, the story gets more and more bizarre as details are revealed. “The citizen stated that the management was renting out rooms for the viewing of adult movies and use as motel rooms. The rooms were allegedly being used for sexual activities.” So I assume they investigated Hotel Indigo, the Hyatt Regency, the Sheraton and Westin and every other Marriott, Hyatt, Hilton and Holiday Inn branded hotel in Dallas? Or is it JUST the gay one?
I have spoken to three people now who all believe it was a intentional move on the part of developers who want that remaining parcel of property for development. The new DART stop has revitalized what used to be just a dark street in a dicey part of town. Now it’s going to become a hotbed of yuppie affluence for the newly gentrified urbanites. Gay Bath House? How déclassé!
The language of that “complaint” is significantly accurate. Yes, there are private rooms where adult videos can be watched on the room’s television set. Yes, I’ve seen guys walk in with Pullman cases, late on a weeknight, as if they are coming to Club Dallas for an overnight stay rather than go to a “hotel”–nothing wrong with that at all. That part of the “complaint” from “a citizen” is nothing new–period. If you go to a Hilton, or similar, you can rent videos to watch in your room . . . even GAY ones, for a fee. Go to a Hilton, watch normal television programs at no charge, rent an adult video for an extra charge, basically elevating your room rate . . . Go to Club Dallas, rent a private room without a television set or rent a private room with a television set for an increased room rate . . . same difference. Using Club Dallas (or similar) as a hotel is a different way to save money . . . with the charges based on intervals of 24 hours rather than paying for the total 24 hours (even if you don’t use them all) at a public hotel.
YET, UNLIKE a public hotel, you have to pass through a highly-controlled door to gain entrance to the private rooms of Club Dallas. LIKE a public hotel with electronic keys for the private rooms, once you pass through the controlled door, you SHOULD be in a space akin to a multi-room suite of a hotel AND in complete privacy from the outside world.
I’d like for somebody to prove that, whether the patron enters a secure and controlled door in a public hotel via an electronic door key or enters a private area of Club Dallas (or similar) via a highly-controlled and secure door is different. That the patron could not expect “privacy” in either their hotel room (with the secure door closed and locked) or behind the closed and secure door at the front desk of Club Dallas?
Certainly, the lobby area of Club Dallas has been termed “public area”, but it is behind the controlled-entrance door, but this area is deemed the “wear a towel or clothes” area. Still, that does NOT mean it is accessible to or in plain sight of the general public who might be at the front desk entry area.
Personally, I don’t like the veiled threat that if Club Dallas was not there, that gay guys would find other places to do what they might do in Club Dallas . . . in public parks, public clubs, etc., but some have fetishes in that area, also. Still, it is NOT a gay guy’s “right” to have sex where ever they might desire–period. Club Dallas provides a nice “spa” experience that is “members-only, male-only” in an upscale environment. It might be a sexually-oriented business (meeting all distance requirements and such), which can be very social in nature, but what happens from there is up to the decision of the people involved.
This whole situation can hinge upon the definition of “privacy” — expectations thereof and invasion thereof. Uses of a “motel” or “hotel” might also be defined.
Unanswered question might be “How did the ‘citizen’ making the complaint gain knowledge of just how the rooms in Club Dallas were being used?” Was it from casually driving by, observing from a private vehicle parked in a public parking space? Was it from walking by on the sidewalk? Was the ‘citizen’ patronizing a nearby business? OR did the “citizen” purchase a temporary membership to gain entrance to Club Dallas (for what ever reason) as some sort of undercover look-see (using “investigation” rather than “look-see” might indicate “intent” in finding some offensible action behind the controlled door of a “private club”). NOW, the reason the “citizen” was in Club Dallas (to begin with) CAN become highly relevant to this whole discussion!
No mention of a search warrant in the DPD Update, either. If a business has signage posted which states that a membership must be purchased to gain entrance to the main areas of the establishment, the Club Dallas employee was probably acting correctly to attempt to deny the “backup officers” entrance without one of the officers already in the club being at the controlled door to authorize their entrance. It might also be in the capabilities of Club Dallas to send DPD a bill for day passes for all of those officers who were in the club without having purchased such day passes/temporary memberships. THAT might cause some interesting headlines . . . “Gay Private Club Bills DPD for Entrance of Police Officers Refusing to Purchase Day Passes”. Whereas, if there was a large fire, Club Dallas might “comp” the firefighters for putting out the fire.
Wasn’t the demise of the TX Sodomy Law related to “what goes on behind closed doors” and the “double standard between gay couples and straight couples”? That those activities behind closed doors were “private between consenting adults” (paraphrased)? Now, it just needs to be determined WHERE that closed door is located . . . in the case of a private residence, is it the “front door” with the main lock mechanism and sight hole . . . in the case of a motel or hotel, is it the main entrance to the room area controlled by an electronic or metal key . . . or the highly-controlled, electronically locked and openned solid door controlled by front desk employees of Club Dallas. There MUST be some line of demarcation which definitely divides “public” from “private”.
It seems that the TX case law which DPD is using in their “private” = “public” definition is unusually vague and open for discussion AND significantly different from what the general public perceives the definition of “private” is believed to be.
Under DPD’s perceived definition of “private” and “lewd conduct”, they could probably have raids on many residences in the city to make arrests under those definitions . . . even if they had to pass through interior doors of the residence to do it . . . which might also be “locked and controlled”. Might even catch some dignitite couples in the process too . . . in dress or actions which would be defined as “lewd” and “with intent to arouse” under TX statute with NO specification where those actions might be taking place . . . right inside the privacy (accessible to the general public who might walk inside the yard fence, walk up to the front door, and ring the door bell or knock on the door) of their private bedroom. Might the kegs of worms be let loose by an innovative legal team and others bound and determined to enforce the law to its full extent? MIght be interesting to see how that would play out!
This is 2010. You don’t need a lengthy explanation, justification or rationalization to realize that the City of Dallas is engaging in bullying and intimidation. This raid was clearly targeted at the gay community. Period. You either do something about it and hold people accountable or you don’t.
A good source of information you guys have missed. Squirt.org. All anyone has to do is register to read all the graphic information on what goes on at these places. Doesn’t mean a person has to be there physically to witness and file a complaint. Duh? Keep posting your sexual conquests on Squirt.org, and wait for the next raid.
Perhaps we need to file complaints with Dallas Vice about what’s going on with the private dances at Dallas’ many strip clubs, escort services, etc. If Dallas Vice receives a complaint, they, according to their own release and GLBT representative, must be investigated.
Let’s keep them busy. It’s obviously intimidation. The place has been there for decades. The raids there and Midtown will be more and more frequent. Developers want that property.
What developers want in Dallas, developers get.
I agree w/ “Irritated” that we need to file complaints on the titty bars that do business in the city. We don’t need to go inside to assume that illegal activity is taking place. When the list of married men hit the papers I think an end to this type of arrests will be near.
I would like to see the definition of “motel” which DPD Vice (and/or their advisors) are working from. PLUs how long the observation period was to make that alleged determination. This could lead to a zoning violation, if they could classify Club Dallas and/or Midtown as “motels” in districts not approved for such.
I haven’t heard of a “motel” or “hotel” which requires patrons to physically check-out of their room every time they leave the premises. Yet, there are no “come and go” priviledges at Club Dallas (according to their website’s FAQs). Hence, treating Club Dallas as a “motel” or “hotel”, rather than a fitness facility (or gym), seems inappropriate.
Squirt.org is also related to http://www.cruisingforsex.com (which has a warning attached to the Club Dallas listing). It would not surprise me if some of the postings on those websites are put there by undercover operatives (although the disclaimer on those websites clearly mentions “Not a law enforcement officer” in their pre-entry wording. With all of the listings for Dallas on those websites (public rest rooms, parks, trails, strip clubs, etc.), you’d think that if Vice really wanted to clean things up, there are enough choices to keep them busy for a long time with “public” locations rather than worry about a “members-only, restricted access, private club” patronized by consenting adults.
@ Irritated . . . interesting concept!
CD, the press release doesn’t mention anyone being cited for a zoning violation. The sign on each door says “dressing room”. Clearly, a room that small couldn’t be considered overnight accommodations. I think alot of us would pay to find out who filed the complaint. A thrown out member? A “holier than thou” citizen? Maybe a local preacher who visited the joint on a research project.
DPD needs to investigate the Topless clubs. Seems like they are all over the city. But that’s just guys having a little fun. No harm being done. Of course, it’s likely the officers stop after work from time to time just to “relax”. Momma doesn’t need to know that.
A “citizen complaint” was made to the DPD vice. I find that hard to believe that the average citizen would be in a gay establishment. Maybe this was a person that was kicked out of Club Dallas and was wanting revenge. I have heard for years about Midtown and Club Dallas being hot spots for sexual activity. I avoid those types of places because of the chance that the police will raid it and sex with stranges is not my thing. DPD has been known to exaggerate, make up and lie about things that were going on just to have a case against a business or individual. This sounds like the Rainbow Lounge in Fort Worth. Something stinks very bad.
I’d like to know who the snitch is. More than likely it was someone that was either thrown out by management and getting revenge, or someone so busted looking that they couldn’t get any action. Either way, it’s f*cked up!
I kinda have to agre with Jake…the patrons probably even know the person….some one got rejected or kicked out for some reason…and bingo…he cries to the authorities.
and the DPD couldn’t place a call to management of The Club and say “hey this complaint was made so clean it up or we have to act accordingly”? So if complaints are filed on the various other establishments where sexual activity occurs (strip clubs comes to mind) will we see raids upon those places as well? I seriously doubt it. I don’t buy any of DPD’s explanation of the event, it’s lame. Jake brings forth an interesting possibility of what may have transpired but I’m sure guys get “86’d” (kicked out) fairly frequently for a myriad of reasons and have tried to get revenge for it so why was October 8th so much more important? Is it really that easy to send the police on a raid with one phone call?
VOTE! Do it TODAY! It’s the only way things are EVER going to change! If you really care… VOTE!
developers “ARE” citizens…………………People that file complaints don’t have to give their names……………Everything is not about your gayness………..No one cares what goes on in there except a few busy body queens on here.,………….Dart would never have built a rail station in between 2 whore houses are you out of your minds……. unless there was already a plan to get rid of them. We don’t know the clubs business…….Maybe they have been offered money for their property and are being greedy or wont budge …………………So maybe they are getting a little “PUSH”. Wake up Homos its done all the time to everyone all over the country………Developers always win…………….
That DART light rail line has been in the planning for years. Obviously, with it nearby, the property valuations are rising due to that and the other residential developments in the area. Therefore, if I was a developer, I’d have been chasing that property for several years rather than AFTER the enabling transportation link was finished. To make a development that would be financially viable, I suspect they’d need the whole block rather than just the footprint of the Club Dallas building (excluding the parking area) itself. As I recall, you can find who gets the Dallas City Tax Bill from the Dallas Appraisal District’s website, plus the valuation for taxing purposes.
But Club Dallas operates very discreetly. The average person passing by would have no idea what goes on inside. No big sign. No rainbow flags, etc. etc. Looks like a workout facility. You can look in the window and see people working out. How would a non-customer know enough about this business to file a complaint?
So, this is the Dallas gay community. They get attacked. They blame each other, degrade each other, sit back and hope it doesn’t happen to them? When ya’ll are men enough to stand up for your rights maybe you’ll get them.
Verry, verrryyyy true, doublerainbow!! That’s the way it always has been — discrete, as are all of the other Club locations. Just the little sign and nothing more. If you don’t know it’s there, you’ll drive right by it/them.
I have never been to a bathhouse, nor do I ever want to go to one. But, that doesn’t mean I don’t suport their right to exist. We, as a community need to stand up to the DPD. We cannot allow them to do this to our community, even if it’s part of our community we don’t agree with. If we let them get away with this, eventually they will get to the rest of us. This type of activity is all over the place in straight establishments, yet they never get raided. Why only raid the gay bathhouse? We need to unite against the DPD now!
Regardless of what was going on the fact is that CD is a PRIVET CLUB. The only public area is at the first entry lobby and not beyond that. After you go beyond the main lobby it totally up to you as long as you are not violating Drug laws, prostitution, or other illegal activities just as if you are going to a nudist colony. TO THE PEOPLE ARESTED, GET Good LAWERS AND FIGHT HARD if you don’t you will go the sex offenders List. And it will haunt you for the rest of your lives. I had a BF that was arrests for having sex with his BF at the time out in the country in his car and a patrol car came upon them. They are now registered sex offenders.
I have a friend who routinely goes to women’s strip clubs to watch guys strip. Even though alcohol is being served, the ladies are allowed the grope and kiss the strippers, which I believe is illegal. I think I might make a “citizen’s complaint”, then see what happens…
I cannot believe how fricken backwards and redneck dalls is. I come from a much more liberal and progressive state. It fricken amazes me how backwards and unjust and gayphobic dalls is. The crazy and lame excuses the DPD used for this stupid raid (meant to bully and intimidate gay people) is mind boggling. Lets all flood the DPD vice with complaints about the strip joints. I gotta get the hell outa this town.
Don’t kid yourself, this place is a big time meth fueled sex house. It’s easy to find in there any amount you want to buy. They have all the Utencils available to smoke and inject it with. The guy outside mearly acts as a police buffer. The employees inside running the place are aware of all the tweakers and dealers. The dealers feel as though it’s safer to sale there cause of the safety net that the place secretly has in place. The only problem With DPD doing this raid was that they were not properly informed of how to go about their operation. Meth is the worlds most dangerous drug and it thrives at this place. Take the dope out of the equation and I would have no problem with this business.
Whoever posted a coment avout meth being sold and used at club dalls is just lyng through their teeth. The management does not tolerate drugs in any way shape or form. Its a very clean cut environment. I have a gyn membership there, so I go there regularly. Its a safe environment. Occasionaly I see someone that looks like they might be on drugs. But thats the exception not the rule. Anywhere you go your going to find people that apear like they could be on drugs. Certainly at the bars. And club dalls is no exception. But overall it is a clean cut and very safe environment. Most people there just to have fun, not do drugs. Again, management does not tolerate drugs.
We’ll have to see, but it’s very easy to observe and participate in that activity there if one wants. Late at night you can walk by the rooms doors wide open and find meth easy. Heck they even have a .000 gram scale to measure with, just saying. They say that a min purchase is 40.00. Anyway DPD or DEA hasn’t raided the place yet so the fact that it happens so to say is a mute point. If you want this place and like this place I would then suggest that you help clean that crap up before you get raided again. I know that it will not happen because that is a major part of that place.