Tarrant County moves to revoke business license of strip club

Tarrant County, Texas - As part of a broader effort to restore order and prevent a surge in violence in the area, Tarrant County officials have embarked on a legal journey to revoke the sex-oriented business license of a local adult entertainment establishment, according to Dallas Metro News.

This decisive measure, which could end in its permanent closure, was prompted by the aftermath of a deeply disturbing weekend that witnessed the tragic outcome of a chaotic incident, leaving one dead and three seriously injured.

Detailing the unfortunate occurrence, the Tarrant County Sheriff's office indicated that the event unfurled during the early hours of Sunday, precisely around 3:15 am, at the infamous strip club known as Temptations.

A customer, shown the exit after a disagreement, retaliated by initiating a vicious attack, in the form of a shooting spree just outside the club's premises. This unexpected act resulted in injuries to three innocent bystanders in the parking lot. In a bold move to defuse the volatile situation, a security guard fought back, inflicting fatal wounds on the unruly patron.

The establishment's close quarters to residential homes has been the catalyst for a steady stream of grievances from the local populace, branding it a public annoyance. One such voice is that of Antonio Jimenez, an officer of the law who resides a mere 200 yards from the club. He has not been shy in lending his voice to the public outcry demanding the club's closure. Jimenez admits that he had initially underestimated the potential disturbances that such an establishment could generate.

In retrospect, Jimenez offers his account, asserting that over the span of the last two years, the club has unfortunately been the epicenter of numerous violent occurrences.

“A few shootings ago, we had several of the victims run towards this way. Of course, it’s such a short distance. I’m sure people were just running and frantic, trying to get away from the situation,” he said to NBC 5. “I ended up having to arrest one of the guys who was one of the shooters if I recall right. Of course, that raises a concern. My wife’s freaking out. Children are freaking out.”

Aligning with these sentiments is Tarrant County Commissioner Manny Ramirez, the representative for the area, who fully concurs with the concerns expressed by the residents.

“This is a dangerous business that creates an unacceptable risk to our community and our law enforcement officers. Quite frankly, this business should have been shut down a decade ago,” said Ramirez.

Eric Langan, the proprietor of the disputed club and a resident of Bellaire, Texas, has been issued an official notice by Tarrant County officials. A hearing has been slated for 9 a.m., June 21 before the Tarrant County Sexually Oriented Business Board. This legal gathering is intended to ascertain the presence of probable cause to rescind the club’s permit. If the board arrives at a consensus favoring the revocation of the permit, Langan will be afforded a 20-day grace period to mount an appeal.

Langan, despite being approached by a variety of local digital and television media outlets through a multitude of channels such as Facebook, phone, and email since the previous Thursday, has remained silent.

An official statement from the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office, released on Thursday, highlighted the worrying frequency of emergency calls traced back to the club as a cause for grave concern. Between 2020 and 2022, over 240 calls for service were logged, with 134 emanating in 2022 alone. Spanning from homicide to drug possession, these incidents illustrate the urgent necessity to staunch the flow of criminal activity within the club's confines. In 2023, this grim tally escalated to a shocking total of 82 calls, according to Tarrant County Sheriff Bill Waybourn.

“It is absolutely a problem. It is a blight on the community. There is always issues going on out there,” Sheriff Waybourn said. “It’s a dangerous area. It attracts danger. It’s BYOB, so we’ve got alcohol there. We’ve got drugs. All of the elements of a recipe that will go bad.”

Stepping up to take an active role in this ongoing battle against the turbulent strip club is Tarrant County District Attorney Phil Sorrells. His office has filed a public nuisance lawsuit against the property owner, Queen Shiva, LLC. Should this suit earn judicial backing, the fate of the contentious club will be sealed with its irreversible closure.

The lawsuit paints the establishment as a "breeding ground for unlawful activities", exposing its persistent criminal tendencies.

“As District Attorney, I am concerned about the escalation of criminal activities at Temptations Cabaret constituting a nuisance. That is why I filed a lawsuit Tuesday seeking injunctive relief to curtail the menace that is Temptations,” Sorrells said. “My number one priority is keeping our community safe. Allowing Temptations to continue its operation is counterintuitive to this goal.”

In his petition, Sorrells presents a damning portrayal of the infamous club. "Temptations,” he penned, “has etched an ignominious position for itself in the consciousness of the law enforcement community and the public at large, functioning as a sanctuary for illicit activities. Patrons are often caught in various states of intoxication, engaging in unruly and violent behavior, and actively participating in the sale or consumption of narcotics.”

Sorrells makes reference to a series of violent incidents that beleaguered the club earlier in the same month, preceding the fatal shooting that occurred on May 28, which claimed the life of one aggressor and left three individuals injured.

These incidents included a double stabbing and several shootings, along with five cases of aggravated assault involving deadly weapons. He also recalls a lethal incident from August 2020, wherein a violent altercation outside the club resulted in one man losing his life and another sustaining severe injuries.