Georgia- The owners of Forest Park’s newest strip club say their patrons are being unlawfully harassed by the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office.
On Monday, the owners of Pink Pony South said they are drafting a federal lawsuit against Sheriff Victor Hill.
Hill did not return a phone call nor an e-mail Monday. Department spokesman Jonathan Newton also declined to comment.
The sheriff’s office set up a road check on Frontage Road on Friday night —two days after the adult entertainment complex opened.
“They set up police blockades and searched our customers,” said Aubrey T. Villines Jr., the club’s attorney.
Villines said he complained to the Sheriff’s Office, but got no response.
The deputies returned again Saturday. This time, they told Pink Pony management it was a random road check designed to catch drunk drivers, Villines said.
Villines argues the sheriff’s department was targeting the club, since the patrols were set up on Frontage Road — a remote access road home to only a few industrial businesses and the club.
“You can’t just put up a roadblock to drive someone out of business,” he said. “It is not merely coincidence that they put a road check in during the same week an adult entertainment place opened. This is an area they don’t even [routinely] patrol. This is not happenstance.”
Forest Park Mayor Corine Deyton, City Manager John Parker and the Forest Park police department said they were unaware of the road blocks, but have had no problems with the Pink Pony.
“I know he is the highest law enforcement in the whole county, but we have our own police department here to take care of any problems,” Deyton said. “I haven’t heard of any problems over there. But it’s an election year, what can I say?”
Parker said he met with Pink Pony managers last week to make sure they were aware of the ordinances governing strip clubs.
Clayton County Commission Chairman Eldrin Bell said he had received a complaint regarding the roadblock and referred it to the county attorney.
“It may result in a lawsuit,” Bell said. “The lawsuits against him [the sheriff] are mounting and we’re still paying counsel fees for all of them.”
The Forest Park City Council voted Feb. 4 to issue liquor and adult entertainment licenses to the Pink Pony after an investigation by the police found no problems with applicant Jack Galardi.