Raid on Fort Worth Gay Bar

[ccharles000]

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/6/28/747810/-Breaking:-Raid-on-Fort-Worth-Gay-Bar-(Update-x6)

A blog post this morning on the Dallas Voice Blog page on the 40th Anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. People were arrested for "Public Intoxication".

This story is now breaking on facebook, with an apparent protest planned for today (location and time still not clearly determined). I have had a brief IM with a reporter who is working on the story, so the event did occur.

The posts on the Dallas voice page are verified to be from a reporter from the Voice, so while they may be a bit "first person-ish", they are from a reporter.

Information below the fold.

[MADem]

1. Public intoxication? In a TEXAS bar? Who knew? NT

[obliviously]

2. The headline tomarrow

will be "Man pees in restroom".

[MajorChode]

11. Here's the actual headline

Upset Fort Worth residents protest raid on gay nightclub
http://www.star-telegram.com/local/story/1458523.html

[MajorChode]

3. I've seen cops bust up straight bars the same way

Years ago my dad used to run a pub. The cops came in once acting on some type of complaint. They arrested a couple of people. My dad just asked what was going on and the next thing he knew he was in a choke hold.

I've also got the other side of the story from cops I know. They say going into a bar after midnight is always a losing situation. Drunk people are very likely to get belligerent and none of the patrons are going to be on their side. Their normal tactic is to get those they think are offenders in restraints and outside ASAP, where they can better sort things out. It's quite common for people to get arrested for public intoxication in a bar. This is usually done in an attempt to diffuse a bad situation. They are put into the drunk tank and they get out the next day when they dry out. Charges are quite often dropped.

[obliviously]

4. seldom in oklahoma

is anyone ever released without a fine. Taxation at gunpoint is a common revenue enhancement device used by our local governments.

[MajorChode]

8. I lived in Oklahoma for many years

I knew people who got arrested for public intoxication and got the charges dropped without much trouble, so it doesn't seem to be a universal thing.

Arresting people for public intoxication is a piss poor means to raise money because typically they are the hardest to deal with and use up the most resources. It's far easier to catch speeders.

[obliviously]

9. Speeding is a huge moneymaker! N/T

[Skip Intro]

5. Is it illegal to be drunk in a bar? That's insane. That seems akin to entrapment to me.

If someone is harassing someone else. Then arrest them for that. If someone is disturbing the "peace" - whatever that means in a bar, then arrest them for that. If someone is attempting to drive while plastered, hell, even arrest them for that.

But to arrest someone for being intoxicated in a bar...:shrug:

[MajorChode]

7. Yes, it is illegal in most states

I don't think it's a bad law as long as it's not abused (and most all laws have the potential to be abused). Quite often a person who is drunk may have not done anything seriously wrong other than being disorderly, but have a high potential to either disturb or hurt others or themselves. I've been in bars were people just needed to go home and they wouldn't. Without a public intoxication law, you just have to wait for them to seriously fuckup before they can be arrested.

I'm also not that big on people getting drunk in bars. They usually make a complete ass out of themselves and almost always wind up disturbing others. Some find it entertaining. I find it pathetic. That's why I rarely go to bars anymore.

[kevinbgoode]

6. There appears to be a complete contradiction between police reports

and eyewitnesses on the scene. And one patron is in the hospital with head injuries - he was apprehended for the heinous crime of walking to the bathroom. Another patron was, according to a witness, arrested while drinking WATER.

They needed seven police cars and a van to do an "inspection" for public intoxication?

[MajorChode]

10. Here's the press release from the Fort Worth PD

According to the press release, the owner of the bar knew the TABC was coming well in advance.

http://www.the33tv.com/news/kdaf-rainbow-lounge-fwpd-statement-story,0,1536646.story