One-two punch for Knockouts: State files charge against business following city citation
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After the city of sa国际传媒官网网页入口 moved to temporarily shut down Knockouts, the state has delivered another blow against the Downtown strip club.
The New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department filed several charges against the business, alleging it violated the terms of its liquor license by allowing a minor on licensed premises, distributing alcohol to a minor, selling liquor to someone who already was intoxicated and having insufficient lighting. If found in violation , the club could face fines or the suspension or revocation of its liquor license.
The business will have a chance to address the charges at a hearing tentatively set for Jan. 25. The club did not respond to a voicemail left by the Journal for comment.
The club was the site of a December shooting after a 16-year-old boy entered the 21-and-over club with a fake ID, according to an sa国际传媒官网网页入口 Police Department spokesperson.
According to the charging document, the club was dark enough to allow a 鈥渕inor to carry into the licensed premises a .40 S&W caliber semi-automatic firearm with an extended capacity magazine, without detection.鈥�
Another individual was served drinks despite 鈥渧isible signs of impairment,鈥� as he grew overly 鈥渇riendly,鈥� 鈥渁ffectionate鈥� and 鈥渁nimated,鈥� leaning on others around the establishment.
A club employee also tried to keep a witness from cooperating with law enforcement, the charging document alleges, telling them to 鈥渟hut up鈥� or they would 鈥渟lap鈥� them.
Last week, the city issued a citation to Knockouts after one of the dancers鈥� ID couldn鈥檛 be found on file during an inspection. The club was supposed to shut down Monday but was able to remain open after appealing the citation.
鈥淭his is powerful news for our efforts to make downtown safer,鈥� said Mayor Tim Keller in a statement. 鈥淲e鈥檙e encouraged to have the state as a partner in our work to get rid of drivers of crime like Knockouts.鈥�
