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By Phil Trexler
Beacon Journal staff writer
POSTED: 04:02 p.m. EDT, May 13, 2009
Attorneys with the city of Akron are seeking to close the men's club where police say two teenage girls worked as strippers.
A nuisance abatement lawsuit filed by city attorneys on Tuesday seeks a court order to shutter the Playhouse nightclub on East Waterloo Road for at least one year.
Besides employing two girls, ages 14 and 17, police allege the club is a ''burden'' on its officers with a series of ''lewd conduct, violence, theft, disorderly conduct'' and other crimes and infractions.
The lawsuit was filed in Summit County Common Pleas Court. Judge Brenda Burnham Unruh set a May 21 hearing for the city's request for a preliminary injunction.
The judge could order the club temporarily closed before more hearings are scheduled.
The Playhouse, for now, remains open. Club representatives could not be immediately reached for comment.
''The city will continue to close bars and establishments that violate the community standards and exploit children,'' said Akron Prosecutor Doug Powley, who filed the lawsuit on behalf of the city.
Vice detectives, acting on complaints that the club was in violation of neighborhood zoning laws, visited the club in March and found a 17-year-old girl dancing topless for adult men. The police raid ended with 10 dancers being arrested for allegedly improper conduct. There were also three misdemeanor drug arrests.
Weeks later, they returned to serve a search warrant and discovered a 14-year-old girl dancing topless for men.
The girl apparently was trying to earn money and rebelling against her parents, child-welfare officials said.
Summit County Children Services took temporary custody of the teenager. She is back with her mother while police try to determine how the child came to work at the bar.
The club's owner, Robert T. Mitchell, 34, of Ravenna, and the bar manager, Christopher Wier, 34, of Ravenna, are charged with illegal use of a minor in a nudity-oriented performance and two counts of child endangering.
Also, the Ohio Investigative Unit of the Department of Public Safety has filed three citations against the club's liquor license, police said. Charges include improper conduct citations for disorderly activities and public indecency and employment of a person under 18.
Phil Trexler can be reached at 330-996-3717 or ptrexler@thebeaconjournal.com.
Attorneys with the city of Akron are seeking to close the men's club where police say two teenage girls worked as strippers.
A nuisance abatement lawsuit filed by city attorneys on Tuesday seeks a court order to shutter the Playhouse nightclub on East Waterloo Road for at least one year.
Besides employing two girls, ages 14 and 17, police allege the club is a ''burden'' on its officers with a series of ''lewd conduct, violence, theft, disorderly conduct'' and other crimes and infractions.
The lawsuit was filed in Summit County Common Pleas Court. Judge Brenda Burnham Unruh set a May 21 hearing for the city's request for a preliminary injunction.
The judge could order the club temporarily closed before more hearings are scheduled.
The Playhouse, for now, remains open. Club representatives could not be immediately reached for comment.
''The city will continue to close bars and establishments that violate the community standards and exploit children,'' said Akron Prosecutor Doug Powley, who filed the lawsuit on behalf of the city.
Vice detectives, acting on complaints that the club was in violation of neighborhood zoning laws, visited the club in March and found a 17-year-old girl dancing topless for adult men. The police raid ended with 10 dancers being arrested for allegedly improper conduct. There were also three misdemeanor drug arrests.
Weeks later, they returned to serve a search warrant and discovered a 14-year-old girl dancing topless for men.
The girl apparently was trying to earn money and rebelling against her parents, child-welfare officials said.
Summit County Children Services took temporary custody of the teenager. She is back with her mother while police try to determine how the child came to work at the bar.
The club's owner, Robert T. Mitchell, 34, of Ravenna, and the bar manager, Christopher Wier, 34, of Ravenna, are charged with illegal use of a minor in a nudity-oriented performance and two counts of child endangering.
Also, the Ohio Investigative Unit of the Department of Public Safety has filed three citations against the club's liquor license, police said. Charges include improper conduct citations for disorderly activities and public indecency and employment of a person under 18.
Phil Trexler can be reached at 330-996-3717 or ptrexler@thebeaconjournal.com.
Comments
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Cuyahoga Falls, OH
Posted 04:12 PM, 05/13/2009
This whole story makes me feel like I need to go take a shower.
Akron, OH
Posted 04:22 PM, 05/13/2009
Sadly it will just open somewhere else under a new name.
Tallmadge, OH
Posted 04:28 PM, 05/13/2009
It should have been shut down immediately.
Posted 04:40 PM, 05/13/2009
I wonder if it could have been a set-up? I just think it's odd any businessperson would take a chance allowing a teenager to work in that setting.
Maybe someone provided the teen with false documents proving she was of age?
You never know. Guess we have to wait and see what the evidence is.
Akron, OH
Posted 04:41 PM, 05/13/2009
==================
The ABJ story reported:
A nuisance abatement lawsuit filed by city attorneys on Tuesday
Police allege the club is a "burden" on its officers with a series of "lewd conduct, violence, theft, disorderly conduct" and other crimes and infractions.
==================
Using this logic, shouldn't Plusquellic & Company filing a lawsuit to close several entire Akron neighborhoods that fall under the same criteria?
Posted 05:10 PM, 05/13/2009
@Overtaxed Voter: -1 for trolling. The story has nothing to do with Don P.
Akron, oh
Posted 06:09 PM, 05/13/2009
I thought lewd conduct and disorderly conduct were the basis of the strip club industry.
barberton, oh
Posted 06:18 PM, 05/13/2009
Don't we some REAL crime to jump on ???
barberton, oh
Posted 06:20 PM, 05/13/2009
Let's get SNUD in the HOOD and let them do there thing ?? These guy's are good, I know them, and they will drop the hammer on CRIME !!
The, US
Posted 08:33 PM, 05/13/2009
I'm going there!!!! Sweeeeeeeet
Akron, Oh
Posted 09:09 PM, 05/13/2009
I have to agree with Overtaxed Voter. I know a corner that needs to be shut down right after school hours.
somewhere near you, CA
Posted 03:09 AM, 05/14/2009
With the local economy in such bad shape, forcing businesses to close is the last thing the city should be doing.
If anything, they should be giving them a piece of the stimulus funds to expand their business.
Posted 05:11 AM, 05/14/2009
Typical of Summit county prosecutors office. A female breaks the law and it is someone elses fault.
With all the job losses we dont need to loose any more. Even slimy jobs feed people.
Posted 07:37 AM, 05/14/2009
UMM Low Rider54 - you mean to tell me it is okay to have a 14 & 17 year old dancing in a strip club?
Posted 08:07 AM, 05/14/2009
Suz, I dont think anyone is saying its ok for under age to work there. The owners obviously are not the sharpest of knives, but did it occur to anyone that these two girls most likely had/have a false I.D.
A liquor license is a very expensive loss for a bar, just to hire a rebellious teen. Furthermore any dancer in the state can be arrested for "improper conduct" if they dance closer than six feet or touch a customer.
"three misdemeanor drug arrests" ok 3 people there had weed on them. It wasnt the owner. Any bar in the county either has or had someone in it with weed on them.
I understand the city's complaint too. Any call APD has there, is a good distance for the police to travel. It's not close to anywhere police typically patrol.
The place is an eyesore and a rathole. But the owners are the ones being charged for the underaged girls crime. If the girls provided false I.D. to APD they would be charged, as they should.
Akron, OH
Posted 08:12 AM, 05/14/2009
It will close when the organized criminals behind it says so. And then, as Karykzen mentioned, it will quickly and quietly reopen under another banner elsewhere in this sad town.
Closing it will make The Don look good. For the moment. That's all.
RichRodforOH2010.com, .
Posted 09:15 AM, 05/14/2009
"The girl apparently was trying to earn money and rebelling against her parents, child-welfare officials said."
Exactly. Just like the Chris Rock bit about making sure he spends time with his daughter to keep her off "the pole."
Posted 09:37 AM, 05/14/2009
Miss Claws,
They wanted to wait a couple of weeks so all the cops, judges, and lawyers could go watch the young ladies perform to make sure they had a good case for prosecution. Ummm.
Posted 09:54 AM, 05/14/2009
I am constantly amazed at how many posters manage to twist the story and contrive some sort of improper conduct by the police department or individual officers. Some times these posters (Claws, John, Toby, - are some examples today) miss facts in the article, or just can't fathom that possibly not every known fact made it in the article. Another scenario that occurs too often is the reporter seems to take a little artistic liberty with the article giving it a nice anti-police twist, ie: "Officers Gun Down Family Man", instead of the more accurate "Gun Weilding Man shot by Police." It's national police memorial day and you folks can't even help yourselves from implying bad conduct on this seemimngly innoculous article. I hope you are happy.
Akron, oh
Posted 10:01 AM, 05/14/2009
"It will close when the organized criminals behind it says so."
AHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH *gasp* *gasp* AHHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
these jokers couldn't organize a spice rack.
have you seen Cletus and Jethro's pictures?
Oh.."organized crime"...that was funny, great start to my morning.
Cuyahoga Falls, OH
Posted 10:06 AM, 05/14/2009
Meow: it's not as if the Akron police and Summit County Court System hasn't earned this kind of scrutiny. Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely... as exemplified by the Machiavellian snake pit we have enforcing our laws right now.
Akron, OH
Posted 10:14 AM, 05/14/2009
@Eric...
Do you really believe that the "city" attorney files any charges without running it past the mayor first?
@David...
The CITY attorney submitted this cast to the COUNTY judge. SBW's office doesn't have anything to do with this case and the judge doesn't get to decide what cases are filed in her court.
Akron, OH
Posted 10:26 AM, 05/14/2009
Cletus and Jethro are typical front men for a place like this. Eager for a buck, good with a line with the "ladies", room-temp IQ, clueless, and ripe to take the fall. The real owners will find two more and reopen the place elsewhere.
Just watch.
Cuyahoga Falls, OH
Posted 10:29 AM, 05/14/2009
My EX boyfriend wanted to go to a strip club for his birthday, I abhor strip clubs but took him anyway.
We got there (to a place in Akron on Brittain Rd.) and the first thing I did was go into the bathroom which is I guess their dressing room. The second I walked in a girl standing at the sink in only a g string said 'Oh my God what are YOU doing here?'
I said 'Do I know you?' She said 'It's me, (name)!'
My jaw dropped because I had known her since she was 10 when we went to the same church. Hadn't seen her in 2 yrs. She got put in foster care and moved away. She is currently 16. I asked her if she was okay and what the hell?
She said she makes obnoxious amounts of money and "learned the business in Columbus and has been on her own doing this for a living for TWO YEARS and loves it" She then told me I should leave because I didn't want to know what goes on there and that it was no big deal, she was cool, and the younger the girl the more money. I was sad and teared up and she gave me a hug and assured me she was OKAY. As my boyfriend and I were leaving after much coaxing 15 min. later we passed her giving a lap dance to guy whose hands were all over her probably my dad's age, in his 60's.
SICKENING
AKRON, ohio
Posted 10:39 AM, 05/14/2009
If they close the bar down what will all the tweens in Lakemore do for meth money ?
Tallmadge, OH
Posted 10:41 AM, 05/14/2009
@toby galownia- lol and ewwww!
@meow- Who p1ssed in your Wheaties today?
Stow, OH
Posted 10:59 AM, 05/14/2009
@ John - she had her sisters id
Posted 11:25 AM, 05/14/2009
Over taxed.. county court, county prosecutor.
Sunshine, WA
Posted 11:28 AM, 05/14/2009
This kind of sickness ruins many a young girls lives. Don't let this abuse of our children continue and close these disgusting hell holes down. We need to protect our children people! These girls were lured by filthy men and lied to.
Akron, OH
Posted 11:50 AM, 05/14/2009
@ David...
READ (if you can) the ABJ story which says:
"A nuisance abatement lawsuit filed by CITY ATTORNEYS on Tuesday"
Akron, OH
Posted 11:52 AM, 05/14/2009
@ David...
READ the ABJ story a bit further where it says:
"The lawsuit was filed in Summit County Common Pleas Court ...set a May 21 hearing for the CITY'S REQUEST for a preliminary injunction."
Tallmadge, Oh
Posted 01:04 PM, 05/14/2009
How are single mom's supposed to pay for nursing college and take care of their babies if the close this place down???? Say it aint so!!!!
Posted 01:32 PM, 05/14/2009
@Overtaxed Voter: Fail. The approval process for filing suit on behalf of the city also has nothing to do with this point of this story nor does it have anything to do with your comment about how Don P. should close neighborhoods. The point of the story is that City wants to close a strip club employing minors. You are still a comment troll who tries to fit in Don P. comments wherever you can.
Posted 01:35 PM, 05/14/2009
"Club representatives could not be immediately reached for comment."
Ya, they were out looking for new young talent.
Scum.
Akron, Oh
Posted 02:26 PM, 05/14/2009
At least it kept her off the streets
akron, oh
Posted 02:39 PM, 05/14/2009
I wonder how many people will lose their job because of this. 20, 25, maybe 28 counting shifts. The city should instead loan this club $250k for improvements. New lighting, sound system, a new computer so they can link into the state driver license bureau and verify the age of dancers. In this economy, you'd hate to see anyone lose a job.
Akron, OH
Posted 03:04 PM, 05/14/2009
Unbelievable...
Now there is some "out of the box" thinking.
At least this is a taxpaying, income generating business. The same can't be said for the last "non-profit" that raked in a Plusquellic requested, quarter-million 'loan' with no strings (like, little nagging things like repayment) attached.
Akron, OH
Posted 03:07 PM, 05/14/2009
Eric...
Why don't you go back to work? After all, you may only have a few days left in your cushy Pluquellic patronage job.
Posted 04:59 PM, 05/14/2009
@Overtaxed Voter: Fail again. Your defense to being a comment troll is an accusation that I work for the Don when I'm not even criticizing your opinion of him within this thread of comments. Yet, you continually show that you're a comment troll by constantly talking about the Don, and now the recall, as if he were the subject of this story. Now you're even talking about not-for-profit loans supported by the Don, which related even less to this story. The facts still support that you are a comment troll.
Cuyahoga Falls, OH
Posted 07:29 PM, 05/14/2009
With respect to the dancers' ages.....
Large "ta-taas" will cloud the male mind on a level that Obi-Wan could only hope to achieve!
The bar-owners may have been duped by over-developed teens with "angst".....
I'd hate to be the judge on THIS one!
Posted 10:43 PM, 05/14/2009
under the current administration in akron there has been a major hands off policy on strip clubs and they have run wild
time for a change
akron, oh
Posted 09:47 AM, 05/15/2009
Gross....close it down.
Ravenna, Oh
Posted 12:15 PM, 05/15/2009
I wish that everyone could get the real story. No dancers were arrested. No 17 was seen dancing. No 14 was seen topless. the club has only been open since Sept and was closed for 2 months due to a fire. the club has been cleaned up, new lighting, new sound system, computers. No drugs are allowed and in fact if the owners see/hear of drugs the person is removed immediately. the club has nothing to do with the old Rumors, which by the way had been closed for over a year before this club was opened. the bottom line is the girl(s) lied about her age, gave a false id and was hired. Why is she not responsible? She has put these young men's lives in jeopardy and disputed the lives of many of the other people who work there. this is not my kind of business and no I do not agree with the type of business but as long as it is run properly there should be no problem . There are many strip clubs in Akron that seem to have a lot more problems that this club has ever had. As for the police coming all the time, the club has never had to call the police. they take care of any problems with the use of a bouncer. the bar is clean, the bathrooms are clean and the business is legal.
the writer of the story should check his facts before writing them as truths.
Posted 12:32 PM, 05/15/2009
What I haven't figured out is why the strip club owners have not been charged with pandering child ponography and as sex ofenders?
akron, oh
Posted 12:39 PM, 05/15/2009
When the city of Akron fail to bring in postive jobs, the negative jobs will creep in. This place should have never been allowed to open in the first place.
