PINELLAS PARK – Deputies arrested two men suspected of setting fire to the Bottoms Up Gentlemen’s Club, after one of them got caught stealing a tip jar.
According to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, Lawrence Hubbard, 24, [pictured left] Sean Zander, 27, were asked to leave the strip club, located on 66th Street North in Pinellas Park, just before midnight Sunday when Hubbard grabbed a tip jar on the way out.
Employees said they got the money back, but Hubbard threatened to get a gun and shoot them, and then the pair took off.
Deputies were unable to locate the suspects, but continued to patrol the area. Then about 3:30 a.m. the K-9 unit heard a shot by the club. Deputy Jim Vickers and his canine partner “Deuce” spotted Hubbard and Zander near 66th Street and 86th Avenue, and Vickers arrested them.
Deputies said the investigation into the shooting revealed the club’s owner, Dzevdat Resulovsk, fired a single shot from his handgun when he saw the suspects setting fire to the exterior of his business.
According to deputies, Hubbard and Zander poured a flammable liquid on the north wall of the club and took off. Two employees were inside at the time of the fire, but no one was hurt.
Hubbard faces charges of arson, aggravated assault and petit theft. Zander faces one count of arson.
The incident is still under investigation.
