Friday, September 11, 2009
News Police raid gay leather bar Atlanta Eagle
Posted by Patrick Saunders on Fri, Sep 11, 2009 at 3:17 PM
UPDATE: According to an Atlanta Progressive News correction, Eagle patrons were not arrested after all, though they were ordered to lie on the ground and were handcuffed.
Ten police cars pulled up to the Atlanta Eagle on Ponce de Leon Avenue at approximately 11:30 p.m. Thursday night and stormed the bar, arresting multiple bar staff and male dancers and patrons, according to a report by Atlanta Progressive News.
An APN reporter was present at the raid:
One police officer stated, as he and others left the parking lot, "This is gonna keep happening if we keep getting complaints from the community." The officer did not specify what complaints he was referring to.This writer arrived minutes after the raid had begun. A line of cop cars blocked the parking lot so that no one in the parking lot could leave. ...
According to one patron, APD handcuffed all Eagle staff members and dancers, patrons in a leather shop, and anyone who was wearing only underwear; Thursday is advertised as underwear night.
APN also received an e-mail from someone who claimed to be present at the Eagle raid.
My roommate and I were there for the police raid at the Eagle on September 10, 2009. We had arrived about 20 minutes before the raid took place. Everyone was ordered to get on their stomachs and face down during this ordeal. As far as I could tell everyone was searched at least once, most of us twice. Most, but not all, of the officers were incredibly derogatory and insulting whether they found evidence of drugs or not.
Another patron present at the raid echoed that story.
While he was detained in handcuffs for more than an hour, he also heard one officer tell another that “I hate gay people.”
“I was held in the bar for over an hour; they were going through and searching people’s pockets. They tore the bar apart. They searched the cash register, they searched the ice machine, they were ripping things off the walls. It was ridiculous. They were in full SWAT gear,” the patron says.
The incident is causing anxiety in Atlanta's LGBT community as the story spreads this morning, particularly after the well-publicized raid of a gay bar in Fort Worth, Texas, that left a customer seriously injured.
That incident led to mass protests across the country, the firing of three Texas liquor board agents and a complete revision of the police department's bar inspection policies.
(UPDATE): Here's the APD's statement about the raid:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASESeptember 11, 2009
The Atlanta Eagle Club Arrests
“The Atlanta Police Department conducts routine inspections of city businesses with valid alcohol permits. The City received several complaints with descriptive information about alleged criminal conduct at the Atlanta Eagle Club located at 306 Ponce De Leon.
In an effort to ensure compliance with the law, the Police Department investigated the complaints and during the investigation police observed criminal behavior taking place at the Club on September 10, 2009. While the Police were conducting a compliance check it lead to the arrests of eight employees. The Department views all complaints of criminal conduct as serious and will utilize resources to investigate and deter criminal activity in order to create a safe environment.
While there have been allegations of improper behavior by police officers conducting the investigation, there have not been any official complaints filed with the Atlanta Police Department. ”
Sgt. Lisa Keyes, Atlanta Police Department, Public Affairs Unit
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Comments (125)
Showing 1-50 of 125
THIS is absofuckinglutely horrid! I have friends who have been frequenting the Eagle for years and years. People who give the city of Atlanta so much of their time and love. It's a real shame that in 2009, this crap is still happening.
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I can't wait to write the Mayor, Senator, and CONGRESSMAN on this Situation. APD can KISS MY ASS!
i was there with a friend. while on the floor i was reminded of stonewall. it felt like it wasn't really happening, but sadly it was. all the cops said was "everybody get down on the floor, on your stomachs, this is a raid!" the were calling people names. it was ridiculous. it took forever to get out of there, after being frisked and having them check our IDs. it felt like living in the past. definitely not a fun night.
Thank you for covering this. We ran a quick correction I just wanted to make sure you were aware of: No patrons were arrested; only Eagle staff and dancers. Please check www.atlantaprogressiveblog.com for updates, and the original story has been updated at: http://www.atlantaprogressivenews.com/news/0508.html
And what exactly were the charges for those arrested? In the condition that Atlanta is in crime-wise, I'd think that the goings-on at a gay bar would be the least of the police chief's worries, unless this bar's staff were participated in the recent uptick in home invasions, smash and grabs, car break ins and thefts, shootings, killings, and muggings. If there are noise or traffic complaints, that's between the bar owners and the community. But a police raid? Really?
Please. They had a reason to raid the place, and I'm guessing it was because of Cocaine. I know the entertainment industry in Atlanta and unfortunately it is SATURATED with drugs such as cocaine (just like any other city I suppose), and a couple of undercover investigations has taken place in some of them. Just because a cop said, "I hate gay people" does not mean they were searched because they were gay. Stop all your whining and quit playing the victim.
Innocent people who were possibly subjected to homophobic slurs and comments are just that: THE VICTIMS.
This is a very disturbing development. I have been planning a trip to Atlanta for some time. I am not rethinking it. I don't like spending money in cities that harass gay people.
Kudos to APN for breaking the story and to fresh loaf for spreading the word (so that anonymous dorks can 'splain that gay=coke head. I feel so enlightened now.) And the Eagle is just a stone's throw away from Krispy Kreme. First mention I've seen concerning the APD's response found here: http://www.projectqatlanta.com/news_articles/view/police_accused_of_harassment_during_eagle_raid/ A raid, because ONE complaint (that shall not be named) was filed WEEKS ago. An undisclosed complaint requires 15 officers and 10 copmobiles while actual criminals are out there engaging in real crime. Just WOW, APD. I forgot for a moment that this is the 21st century and I'm not living in Redneckville.
Even if the Eagle WAS a hive of drugs and debauchery, there has to be a better way to use those resources on a given night. SWAT gear? Seriously? Harassing dudes in their underwear? Jeez. Meanwhile, city neighborhoods like mine are riddled with nightly robberies, assaults, and shootings. I say let the gay dudes do all the blow they want - off each others' balls for all I care - and fight the VIOLENT crime in the city FIRST.
As if the APD isn't among the dumbest, incompetent fucking police force in the country without drawing any public attention to themselves in a situation like this. When you throw a bunch of poor, uneducated baboons into public safety, this is what you get. Ignorant, dense, quasi-retarded public service. They don't need sensitivity training, they need to be fired and barred from public service. Tax dollars of those patrons they harrassed pay your salaries you morons!
Hello, cops...the donut shop is across the street. I used to work in the old shop upstairs in the Eagle. Can't believe this crap still happens in my hometown. This would never stand in San Francisco. Get with it pigs and do some real work. Expect the drugs they took (if any) will either end up in their nose or resold.
@marge-it: You put words in my mouth, I never once said or implied that being gay meant being a coke head. Moving on: To everybody else, I'm not a cop in Atlanta, but I'm pretty sure that the next time you need some serious help, you're not going to call a crack head. Give the cops more credit than this. I know you feel like you've been violated because they had no right to search you, under the assumption that they dont like you because you're gay...but honestly, lets be adults here: Unless you are part of the Atlanta Police force, you have no idea what goes on in police investigations. Yes, there was only one complaint, but you dont know if there was something already going on, you dont know why the police did what they did and why they did it. So cmon now, like I said before, stoppit. Don't use your sexualities to 'spread awareness' for something as petty as this.
It's sad drugs are so bad in the gay community. as many of you know, who has been to the eagle, heretic or jungle what does on at these kind of places..and sexual activity.. i don't want to go to a bar/club and see that kind of stuff! if YOU WOULDNT DO DRUGS... THINGS LIKE THIS WOULD NOT HAPPEN!
Sorry, "Anonymous" but this is exactly the type of police behavior that is unacceptable, treating patrons who indeed were innocent like thugs. I've been there on a thursday night, and it could have been me on the floor, and it WAS one of my friends who had to lie there for 45 minutes. Considering the violent crime going down, this is an unacceptable move by the APD. How many straight oriented clubs have been similarly raided in the last month?
Paul asks, How many straight oriented clubs have been similarly raided in the last month? The answer is, you have no idea. So unless you do some research and accurately find 'straight' clubs that have been raided, I am pretty sure you wont be surprised at how normal it is to raid places because of an ongoing investigation whether it be drugs, prostitution, or anything along those lines of zero tolerance. 'straight' houses, 'straight' clubs, 'straight' events, 'straight' meth houses, 'straight' facilities in general. For those who keep mentioning 'the other violent crime they need to focus on in other parts of Atlanta', I'm pretty sure they have officers on those deals too. What kind of 'customer service' do you expect to get when a place (that has who knows what is going on inside) is getting raided. I've been to gay bars and strip clubs in Atlanta and I can tell you it's worthy of getting investigated. You chose to go to this bar. Lay on the floor, get your ID looked at, and if you're innocent then you can go home.
"They had a reason to raid the place, and I’m guessing it was because of Cocaine." Oh, please. We know that the white stuff is flowing free in every club, bar and venue in town, and none of the straight ones have been raided by SWAT teams. One can only presume that SWAT gear was required to stop any of the policemen involved from contracting 'the gay', or from being 'indoctrinated' as a result of talking to or touching a homosexual without a helmet and bullet-proof armor... Or is it because a regular cop uniform just looks too camp? We don't have enough well-trained, socially-aware police on the streets right now, and to waste time busting a gay club (with the resultant impact on the city's reputation and revenue from gay tourism) when violent crime is out-of-control across metro Atlanta is plain incompetent. Those police could have been out there preventing armed robberies and home invasions, which continue apace.
The SWAT team of the APD is a travesty. Those are the ones who shot the old lady. The regular cops would not do this. SWAT teams represent a very dangerous militarization of police activity. Lots of people in this drug-addled city do tons of cocaine. It's not just a gay drug. I hate it personally and I wish people would quit but this is taking it too far. This city is under siege from a probably gang-based crime wave. The understaffed APD needs to get more grounded in what really is a threat to the community, and figure out how to use its resources better, there will certainly be hell to pay for this. At least they didn't murder anyone this time.
This is absolutely ridiculous and disgusting. With the increasing number of violent crimes in this city, you would think that the police could find someone else to mess with. How about making yourselves useful, by coming to East Atlanta or maybe Midtown where our houses are being robbed left and right and people are held up at gunpoint every day??????? Outrageous!!!
It is amazing how many of these anonymous trolls are willing to give the police a pass at violating the constitutional rights of citizens. Quite apart from the discrimination apparent in the treatment of these patrons, it is a violation of constitutional rights to subject people to the kind of treatment that they were subjected to. It is good that no one was seriously injured, but that could easily have been the result of such a raid. Of course, one needs the police; one does not need thuggish behavior on their part, however.
If they had to raid this place because of COCAINE, then they should go ahead and raid every SINGLE club in Atlanta while they are at it. Why aren't they raiding The Drunken Unicorn? Oh wait, no one does coke there... hmmm. I'm sure at that same time of night, plenty of women were wearing little more than their underwear at OPERA, and doing just as much blow in the corners... and I'm also going to guess just as much sex was going on too. It is not the GAY scene that is drug and sex infested it is the CLUB scene... why did they choose this club? Not to mention if you REALLY look into the cocaine problem in Georgia it is a LOT more complex than what is going on at the Eagle... Do a little GOOGLING about The Mexican Drug Cartel involvement in THE SUBURBS surrounding Atlanta.... seriously, this has nothing to do with drugs. P.S. I am a white heterosexual female. Thanks.
So what would you do if I said I know a little bit more about this raid and why the police did it, and what they actually found out about it, but that the information is currently classified because of an ongoing investigation. Information you may never know about. What if, for that reason alone everything that happened was meant to happen, searching everyone, wearing the gear they wore, choosing that club specifically. You don't know. And until you do, you can't keep being upset about the little details. Like I said before, if you chose to hang out at a club, and you know there are drugs, don't get mad when something like this happens, if it can, it will. If I was gay, would it change your opinion about what I've been saying? This kinda stuff makes me so pissed off, be proud to be gay, stop being insecure, and stop needing people to cater to the fact that we want and need to be treated equal, because to me, it doesn't even apply in this situation. Promote the gay community in a positive way instead of focusing your energy on stupid shit like this. And let the cops do their job without questioning their every move, you have the bad apples here and there, but you cant go around saying all APD are incompetent thugs. You're telling me the Atlanta Police Department got together all their certified 'Thugs' at the station and just because they don't like gays, spent the entire night raiding. I'm sorry, but if I didn't like a certain person I'd rather just not have to deal with them at all, much less bug the shit out of them until they cry and write a blog about it. This is my last comment I guess, because it's pointless to keep arguing with you guys. Hope you get everything figured out. My advice is to put your energy into more positive things. Just my opinion.
Ok, let's take a bigger picture look at this. This is in Midtown, where the neighborhood safety jackbooks have been waging war against Vision/SPI Club (black), the black gays at Piedmont Park on Sunday evenings, Bulldogs (gay), Backstreet (gay, had known problems) and Phoenix (gay, had known problems). Now the Eagle, as quite and under the radar as a club could reasonably be. The straight, white, upscale bar with advertized sex parties on Juniper is never raised as an issue. That just leaves Blake's. There is a big difference between APD Management and APD rank and file, and the Mayor and Chief are main reasons we have such a horrid turn over with officers in the Force (you've read all the articles, right?) and the mess with the quota system that led to the Johnson shooting. Raids don't just get called by Joe(sephine) Q. APD in a cruiser - they get called by management. And management answers to the Mayor. SO! What's really going on in Midtown these days? Does the Mayor's office want to run out all the undesireables (blacks and gays) to prop up the property values for developers? Or is it just basic bigotry on the part of Midtown jackboots? This is actually a very serious question regarding what's going on in Midtown...
"So what would you do if I said I know a little bit more about this raid and why the police did it, and what they actually found out about it, but that the information is currently classified because of an ongoing investigation. Information you may never know about." Oh but we do get to know, Anonymous. You see the founders in their wisdom had this clever little idea called the Fourth Amendment. The police do not have the right to retain anyone without giving a reason. Period.
Anonymous- Please, save your hypothetical 'insider' status for someone who's gullible enough to believe a commenter on a board has more authority, just because he says so. And by the way- I'd like to see facts and links of how many other bars in Atlanta have been raided in this style, with the patrons so obviously abused? Get off your soapbox, because you're not seeing the basics here- which is people's rights have been violated. You're too busy trying to tell the gay and lesbian community that it should behave itself and just go along like good little minorities and not make waves. It's 2009, and we've endured decades of this BS, and because we're going to fight back, you're going to whine about how we're playing the victim? You need to pull your head out of your ass, show some facts, or just shut up.
OMG!! The crime problem in Atlanta is so much more massive than right-wing political stabs at gay bars! Hire more cops to go where CRIME IS BEING COMMITTED. And let's start with violence and robberies. If they want a swing vote, get people to want to return to the city first.
Thank the Lord APD busted those flat-screen T.V. stealin' gayfers! I wonder if they found my pair of fancy Wrangler jean shorts that was taken off me by them blue jean bandits the other night when I passed-out in Johnny's Hideaway.
APD is a total joke. Those of us living in Grant, Inman, and Chandler Park and East Atlanta have to wait 40 min for a cop to arrive while we are actively witnessing a car jacking, robbery, etc but APD can dispatch 10 police cars to a gay bar. This is an inappropriate use of tax payers money. This city is experiencing a tidal wave of violent crime and larcenies, and the best that APD can do is raid a gay bar? The chief should be fired! So far, my new subdivision has experienced 12 break ins with theft, 2 car jackings, and 2 home invasions - some happened in broad daylight. I want APD to come out in force and sweep the thugs off the street..
I have always enjoyed coming to Atlanta and visiting the Eagle. There are great people who work there and I have made friends almost everytime I've visited. They do not deserve this abuse. In eight years of visiting ATL I have never seen signs of drugs or any other illicit activity at the Eagle. If the police had made a specific drug-related arrest that would have been one thing. So far there has been no report that I have read where that was confirmed. People were searched for contraband but so far as far as I have been able to read no one was caught with anything on their person, or in the bar. Thank you to Creative Loafing and the other news outlet for covering this. Where is AJC's coverage? Just like the APD's motive in this harrassment: MISSING and UNCLEAR.
Ok so the bottom line is they found no drugs so everyone using the drug argument can leave that one alone. Now what are you gonna say is wrong?????????
APD= modern day Nazi police,I dont like the Eagle but that does not seem like a good use of tax dollars when you cant even walk the city streets of Atlanta a night like you can in any other major city without thinking you might get shot or stabbed. The whole ATL government is corrupt and has been for many years.
I would love to know how many other crimes were reported in the time that the officers were otherwise disposed arresting underwear clad boys at a gay bar.
WHAT ARE YOU PEOPLE SMOKING! IF YOU'VE BEEN TO THE EAGLE YOU'VE SEEN PEOPLE DO DRUGS/ON DRUGS STUFF THAT HAPPENS IN THE BACK, BJ'S F*CKIN.. COME ON.. DON'T ACT LIKE NONE OF THIS STUFF DOESNT HAPPEN THERE OR JUNGLE OR HERETIC.. GET RID OF THE PLACES COMPLETELY! NEED MORE BARS....
+ 1 Josh. Some bars are not much more than smoke filled orgy rooms when things get really late. I have nothing against dancing...but for pete's sake. Stop the drugs, lewd behavior, leave the lights on(along w/your clothes), ban cigarette smoking, and act civil. If you want to behave like a pig stay at home.
So Josh... while I hate to question your recreational choices, I wonder why NO ONE was arrested for the things you claim go on there? And what about the straight sex club on Juniper? Why is that bar allowed to stay open and advertise as a sex club?
Everyone needs to send emails to Shirley Franklin at mayorfranklin@atlantaga.gov and call her at 404 330 6100 She allows this waste of money yet supports bars such as Vision which is known for violence and thuggery. Here is my email to her and everyone else should send one also. Ms Franklin: I am a resident of VA Highlands and am shocked to hear of the raid on the Atlanta Eagle Bar. I think our taxpayers money can be better spent than raiding a gay bar. We are constantly battling neighborhood crime and you waste our taxpayers money on this kind of anti-gay behavior? I voted for you and was a full supporter of yours. As of now, I am really regretting that decision. Please tell me how many crimes have been reported at the Atlanta Eagle? Yet you support the night club, Vision, which has a history of violence and criminal activity. Shame on you and the sooner you are gone, the better.
Mayor Franklin recently said she took personal responsibility for everything that happens in Atlanta. While I don't hold her responsible for what happened, I think she would be interested to know what the police have chosen to focus time and resources on. I wonder how many cars were broken into while the police were at the Eagle?
Good news Richard and Pat have been working feveriously to get everyone out of jail. Shelitha Robertson and Miguel Gallegoes who are running for city council, called judges around town to allow the eagle to post bail this afternoon. Originally, it was thought they would have to stay in jail until tomorrow or Monday.
Actually, police in full SWAT or riot gear would blend in at the Atlanta Eagle like a drag queen at a Pride parade.
There is always two sides to the story. As a gay man in Atlanta, I've been to the Eagle on numerous occassions and some of the goings on there are absolutely disgusting. Take for instance the dark sex room, STD free for all on Thursday nights in the back. I'm sure that was a big reason behind the raid. Perhaps the APD acted a little aggressively, but to act and say the Eagle and it's partons are completely innocent is just lying.
I think this raid is a joke for many reasons already posted. Anyone who has been there many times and says they have never seen drugs is a fool. When I first moved here a "helpful" neighbor told me I could score the best meth, x and coke in town at Backstreet and The Eagle. Exact quote "Fuck your straight bars honey, we got the best party favors in town". Can anyone tell me the name of the straight sex club on Juniper? Please? :-)
Look, let's face facts, folks: The Atlanta Eagle is a notorious bar infested with drugs and stinky, nasty men doing all sorts of things to each other. I've been there before by the pool table (on a NON-Thursday night) chatting with friends with guys sucking each other off next to me. Really. I don't care what adults of any gender do to each other (so long as its consensual) but is it really necessary to to have an orgy right there in front of everyone? And if you must have an orgy, how about using some protection? Oh, that's right. Snorting coke all night doesn't really lead to safer sex practices. Hmmmm. Maybe the APD is right after all. Please note - I am same-sex oriented...but please don't equate that with a need to screw people in bars...
Anyone who says this is alright for APD to do is a FOOL!!!!!!!Everyone does need to contact Shirley Franklins office and raise hell!!!!! Glad I don not live in that city anymore. Was coming to gay pride in october, but i refuse to spend my hard earned money in a city that treats its gay community like second class citizens. U thought ATL was a progressive city. Guess I was mistaken!!!!
Do shut your flaps, Jason. You will see what the charges are soon enough for those arrested. Then let's see if you'll be brave (or moronic) enough to support them. Screwing and snorting in bars is a no-no in more cities than Atlanta, fool. Got it?
I love the holier than thou attitude. You want to see nasty men doing nasty things to each other, go to FLex or Eros or the Heretic (the nasty pool table room). Give me a break. I have never seen this type of stuff at the Eagle.
Well, Terry. I guess if you've never seen it at the Eagle, then its never happened, yes? Please apply for a brain at your earliest convenience.
It is worth noting that even the MPSA, notorious for shutting down Backstreet and now hellbent on stopping Vision from coming back, spoke out strongly for the Eagle, going as far as saying they are a "good neighbor." To me, that speaks volumes. I'd say APD really messed up bad.
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