Go Go Cabaret owners ask judge to allow club’s re-opening

AUSTINTOWN — Owners of the Go Go Cabaret have taken their case to federal court.

Sebastian Rucci, manager and attorney for the club, said an emergency motion was filed asking a federal judge to allow the business to reopen until a hearing is conducted.

The Clarkins Drive club was shut down Friday night after police in Austintown conducted a raid, arresting five people on charges ranging from theft to drug trafficking. Charges are pending on two others.

Rucci said he feels the Go Go has been unfairly targeted for months, and this was retaliation by the township for issues with signage and lighting.

“The fact is, yeah, they had somebody in there selling drugs, but it’s not like it was tied to the management,” he said. “We didn’t know. [Police] could have come to us, and we would have fired the person involved and kept a better eye on it.”