Melrose Park, Ill. – from www.myfoxchicago.com – A west suburban adult bookstore and two exotic dancers arrested by Melrose Park police filed a false arrest lawsuit against the village this week.

The adult bookstore Excalibur Video Inc. and exotic dancers Susan Watson and Michelle Fennell claim Melrose Park police falsely arrested them and took store property April 21, 2010, according to a suit filed in Cook County Circuit Court.

The suit claims Melrose Park police entered the store at 2217 W. Lake St. in the western suburb about 9:30 p.m. April 21, 2010, searched the premises without a warrant or probable cause and arrested Watson and Fennell.

The officers took a corkboard sign, white board sign and DVD containing a video of Excalibur employees dancing, according to the suit. Watson was charged with maintaining a public nuisance and Fennell was charged with public indecency, the suit said.

Melrose Park police have refused to return the confiscated items, the suit said.

Prior to the arrests, the suit claims Melrose Park police conducted several raids on the store in 2009 and 2010 and ordered the store closed because it did not have the proper authorization to offer live dancing. The suit calls that claim false.

The three-count suit claims false arrest, unlawful detention and illegal search and seizure and is seeking more than $150,000 plus the cost of the suit from the Village of Melrose Park and police officers involved.

A village spokesperson was not immediately available for comment.