Cops place no targets on X-rated businesses

Adults-only cabarets, stores aren’t singled out, local police say

By ELISE FRANCO

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

The only bust that law-abiding patrons of adult businesses needs to worry about are those of the dancers.

Local police and law enforcement officials say two recent stings in Canfield and Austintown were isolated and aren’t part of a larger adult-business crackdown.

In April, Canfield police arrested five people in relation to an alleged prostitution ring at two city motels, the El Patio and Canfield Colonial.

The Go Go Cabaret on Clarkins Drive in Austintown was shut down in May after an investigation into alleged prostitution and drug activity.

Austintown Police Chief Bob Gavalier was involved in the Go Go investigation. He said any incidents at the townships other adult clubs, The Babylon on Javit Court and Club 76 on 76 Drive, have been patron-related.

“We get calls once in a while for smoking complaints at [Club] 76,” he said. “There’s been a couple reports of some assaults with patrons inside.”

Gavalier said the Go Go was initially targeted because of resident complaints and noncompliance with zoning laws. Evidence of drug use and possible prostitution was eventually discovered by undercover officers and informants.

“I think the other two clubs monitor their employees better than the Go Go ever did,” he said. “I think at the time [Go Go owner] Sebastian Rucci was new at the management game, basically learning as he went.”

Management at The Babylon declined to comment. Requests to comment by The Vindicator were not returned by several other area clubs.

Rucci, however, said in May that the Go Go was his first dabble in adult entertainment and he has learned from past mistakes.

“I want to have a better relationship with the township so I am recognized as a business owner trying to do my best,” he said. “We would hope to ... be better at public relations, better at entertaining, better at policing drug activities.”

Mahoning County Prosecutor Paul Gains said though many adult entertainment clubs exist in the Mahoning Valley, few of them cause problems.

“All the authorities and the police want are that the establishments comply with the law,” he said.

“There are other [clubs] obviously in the county, and as long as they comply with the law, nobody cares.

“If gentlemen want to go there and patronize those places, that’s their choice.”

Gavalier said though no other adult businesses in the township are being targeted specifically, it’s important to keep eyes and ears open.

“I think in that environment, if it isn’t somewhat monitored, it can easily get out of hand,” he said.

Gavalier said in the past year or so, two massage parlors were shut down in the township for operating without a license.

Gains said to his knowledge no other police departments are conducting investigations on local adult businesses. He said it’s clear by the fact that the businesses exist that they’re important establishments for some people.

“Obviously they remain in business, so there must be a demand for them,” he said.

“If people were not patronizing them, they wouldn’t be opened very long.”

efranco@vindy.com