Gay Club Claims Discrimination
The local gay disco got raided saturday. The owner claims his civil rights were broken. This includes the right to serve underaged minors, permitting sex in a establishment serving alcohol, gambling and a few other things.
here is the news story.
Memphis police raid, shut down Backstreet club as nuisance
By Christopher Conley (Contact), Memphis Commercial Appeal
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Just after midnight Sunday, a team of Memphis police and county prosecutors brought the activities at Backstreet in Midtown to a sudden stop and arrested the club's owner.
Backstreet, the subject of a months-long investigation by the Organized Crime Unit, was closed temporarily as a public nuisance by order of Environmental Court Judge Larry Potter, based on a petition filed by the District Attorney General's office.
The club owner, Michael Shane Trice, 35, was charged early Sunday with promoting gambling, possession of gambling machines and illegal liquor sales. Three other people were charged with disorderly conduct.
Police also executed two search warrants in the club at 2018 Court Ave.
On at least six occasions, undercover officers witnessed illegal drug sales and use, the illegal sale of alcohol, and gambling inside the club, according to the complaint.
In July, another undercover officer bought drugs and witnessed underage drinking in the club.
The complaint also alleges that various sex acts were occurring in the "dark room," encouraged by the club owner and managers.
"It is obvious that Backstreet is being operated in a manner that condones criminal activity, and it has become a threat to the safety of the surrounding community," District Atty. Gen. Bill Gibbons said.
Neighbors in the area around Backstreet have filed numerous complaints about crime, vandalism, littering, loud noise and large crowds of intoxicated people.
"We will not tolerate illegal activities in any business," Memphis Police Director Larry Godwin said. "Businesses cannot expect to violate the law and continue to operate," he said.
The owner of Backstreet is scheduled to appear in court Friday to answer the nuisance allegations.
Trice is to appear in general sessions criminal court Tuesday morning.
As a result of undercover operations by the Memphis Police since the start of Blue Crush, the district attorney's office has filed nuisance complaints against the owners of more than 100 properties.
HERE IS THE CLUBS RESPONSE FROM THEIR WEBSITE:
Backstreet Memphis and its entire staff including the owner would like to say thank you to all of the customers who were at the club this weekend. Backstreet Memphis has over 26,000 members that come there on a regular basis. The MPD has made our nightclub out to be something that it is not. Anyone that goes there knows we are most likely the most compliant bar in this city with minors, gambling and such. We are the only nightclub that verify's every id with all 50 states before entering. Backsteet has never had a gambling device of any kind but has been accused of having them. Backstreet had mega touch machines made by merit. These machines are in no way designed for gambling and are in almost every bar and restaurant in Memphis. The owner was arrested and a Memphis police officer said he was paid out on a machine that is simply not capable of doing such. (There is absolutly no way the machine the officer is talking about would pay money to anyone). Backstreet has also been accused of promoting sex at the nightclub which is a crazy accusation we hope that all of the thousands of you are just as apouled as we are with such accusations about the largest dance club in Memphis TN. Backstreet opened in 1995 and have never been through such as we have with the person who made these acusations. We had over 300 people searched, checked for warrants and valid ids this weekend. Not one one one one minor was found nor anyone found without an id in our nightclub. "how many bars would this happen in" These charges were from a complaint that came from an ex employee that has since sent us several apology for his complaints and lies to different organizations in Memphis. This is due to them being banned from Backsteet. News channel 3 is reporting people that say they worked at Backstreet but have never worked there but are banned for some reason from the bar. One person has worked there but is also banned from backstreet and even took part in a pro backstreet movement to help get un banned from the club. We have all of this documented very well. The MPD also had a problem with the 2 robbery attempts at Backstreet failing to notice that it was Backstreet and its Staff and patrons that took these people off the streets of Memphis. Several other bars had been robbed and all came to a halt with the arrest of the 2 men at Backstreet. Our staff had to appear in court and face people that are in jail on million dollar bonds to help convict them. Is this really a bad group of people. Out of all the thousands of people that come from all over to Backstreet we are shocked and deeply concerned at the City Of Memphis and The officers that claim these actions took place there at the moment and will do everything necessary to clear our name and bring civil suits on all involved in these crazy accusations of our nightclub in Memphis. There is no doubt that we know all of our patrons know the kind of place Backstreet Memphis is and we greatly appreciate the 100's of people that are willing to testify to there experience at Backstreet in just 1 days time. Once again we would like to say thank you and we look forward to seeing you soon at Backstreet Memphis.
You may have seen the news with Mr Mathew Smart on it. We decided to post the apoligy letters Mr Smart sent to us to try and get un banned from Backstreet. We greatly appriciate the news that have reconized this whole thing is a crazy bunch of lies. We gave these letters to each local news company to retract what Mr Smart was saying.
We would also like to ask anyone that was at the club on Sat night to send us an email with there experience with the MPD while at the bar. Please note that no violations were given to any customers except for 3 disorderly conduct for people simply asking why they were being searched or treated in such disrespect by the city that they pay taxes and vote in.
We believe these letters below sum up the entire situation at Backstreet Memphis. Thanks again for your continued support and don't forget to visit Mary's Memphis and Metro Memphis.
I hate to insult the backstreet writer but bad punctuation and lack of using a spellcheck does not help your case. There was supposed to be a support rally for the club, but there was going to be a counter protest in front of the club that would have had two to three times the number of people. Most gays are not happy to have the owner represent this community. What do you all think? Let me know.
here is the news story.
Memphis police raid, shut down Backstreet club as nuisance
By Christopher Conley (Contact), Memphis Commercial Appeal
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Just after midnight Sunday, a team of Memphis police and county prosecutors brought the activities at Backstreet in Midtown to a sudden stop and arrested the club's owner.
Backstreet, the subject of a months-long investigation by the Organized Crime Unit, was closed temporarily as a public nuisance by order of Environmental Court Judge Larry Potter, based on a petition filed by the District Attorney General's office.
The club owner, Michael Shane Trice, 35, was charged early Sunday with promoting gambling, possession of gambling machines and illegal liquor sales. Three other people were charged with disorderly conduct.
Police also executed two search warrants in the club at 2018 Court Ave.
On at least six occasions, undercover officers witnessed illegal drug sales and use, the illegal sale of alcohol, and gambling inside the club, according to the complaint.
In July, another undercover officer bought drugs and witnessed underage drinking in the club.
The complaint also alleges that various sex acts were occurring in the "dark room," encouraged by the club owner and managers.
"It is obvious that Backstreet is being operated in a manner that condones criminal activity, and it has become a threat to the safety of the surrounding community," District Atty. Gen. Bill Gibbons said.
Neighbors in the area around Backstreet have filed numerous complaints about crime, vandalism, littering, loud noise and large crowds of intoxicated people.
"We will not tolerate illegal activities in any business," Memphis Police Director Larry Godwin said. "Businesses cannot expect to violate the law and continue to operate," he said.
The owner of Backstreet is scheduled to appear in court Friday to answer the nuisance allegations.
Trice is to appear in general sessions criminal court Tuesday morning.
As a result of undercover operations by the Memphis Police since the start of Blue Crush, the district attorney's office has filed nuisance complaints against the owners of more than 100 properties.
HERE IS THE CLUBS RESPONSE FROM THEIR WEBSITE:
Backstreet Memphis and its entire staff including the owner would like to say thank you to all of the customers who were at the club this weekend. Backstreet Memphis has over 26,000 members that come there on a regular basis. The MPD has made our nightclub out to be something that it is not. Anyone that goes there knows we are most likely the most compliant bar in this city with minors, gambling and such. We are the only nightclub that verify's every id with all 50 states before entering. Backsteet has never had a gambling device of any kind but has been accused of having them. Backstreet had mega touch machines made by merit. These machines are in no way designed for gambling and are in almost every bar and restaurant in Memphis. The owner was arrested and a Memphis police officer said he was paid out on a machine that is simply not capable of doing such. (There is absolutly no way the machine the officer is talking about would pay money to anyone). Backstreet has also been accused of promoting sex at the nightclub which is a crazy accusation we hope that all of the thousands of you are just as apouled as we are with such accusations about the largest dance club in Memphis TN. Backstreet opened in 1995 and have never been through such as we have with the person who made these acusations. We had over 300 people searched, checked for warrants and valid ids this weekend. Not one one one one minor was found nor anyone found without an id in our nightclub. "how many bars would this happen in" These charges were from a complaint that came from an ex employee that has since sent us several apology for his complaints and lies to different organizations in Memphis. This is due to them being banned from Backsteet. News channel 3 is reporting people that say they worked at Backstreet but have never worked there but are banned for some reason from the bar. One person has worked there but is also banned from backstreet and even took part in a pro backstreet movement to help get un banned from the club. We have all of this documented very well. The MPD also had a problem with the 2 robbery attempts at Backstreet failing to notice that it was Backstreet and its Staff and patrons that took these people off the streets of Memphis. Several other bars had been robbed and all came to a halt with the arrest of the 2 men at Backstreet. Our staff had to appear in court and face people that are in jail on million dollar bonds to help convict them. Is this really a bad group of people. Out of all the thousands of people that come from all over to Backstreet we are shocked and deeply concerned at the City Of Memphis and The officers that claim these actions took place there at the moment and will do everything necessary to clear our name and bring civil suits on all involved in these crazy accusations of our nightclub in Memphis. There is no doubt that we know all of our patrons know the kind of place Backstreet Memphis is and we greatly appreciate the 100's of people that are willing to testify to there experience at Backstreet in just 1 days time. Once again we would like to say thank you and we look forward to seeing you soon at Backstreet Memphis.
You may have seen the news with Mr Mathew Smart on it. We decided to post the apoligy letters Mr Smart sent to us to try and get un banned from Backstreet. We greatly appriciate the news that have reconized this whole thing is a crazy bunch of lies. We gave these letters to each local news company to retract what Mr Smart was saying.
We would also like to ask anyone that was at the club on Sat night to send us an email with there experience with the MPD while at the bar. Please note that no violations were given to any customers except for 3 disorderly conduct for people simply asking why they were being searched or treated in such disrespect by the city that they pay taxes and vote in.
We believe these letters below sum up the entire situation at Backstreet Memphis. Thanks again for your continued support and don't forget to visit Mary's Memphis and Metro Memphis.
I hate to insult the backstreet writer but bad punctuation and lack of using a spellcheck does not help your case. There was supposed to be a support rally for the club, but there was going to be a counter protest in front of the club that would have had two to three times the number of people. Most gays are not happy to have the owner represent this community. What do you all think? Let me know.