news-record.com

GREENSBORO — The debate on the future of a local strip club targeted by police for closure under nuisance abatement laws likely will come before the City Council sometime in May.

Sugar Bare Lost Dimensions at 510 Farragut St. reappeared on the city’s radar for possible closure following the fatal shooting April 12 of 30-year-old Carlton Smith during a carjacking in the club’s parking lot.

It was the second homicide at that location in the past three years and added to a list of problems the police department believes would be curbed if the club could be closed down through civil action.

The police department is building its case against the club and an invitation has been made for Police Chief Tim Bellamy to present those findings to the City Council.

“It’s the only club in Greensboro where we have had two homicides at,” Bellamy said Thursday afternoon. “I don’t want to have another life lost there.”

However, club owner Darryl McCarroll told the City Council on Tuesday that he feels the club has been unfairly targeted. He blamed issues on the Budget Inn, which sits next door at 512 Farragut St.

“We can’t tell who is coming or going,” McCarroll told the council.

“When people are going back and forth (around the club and the motel), it makes it difficult for our security teams to be able to know who is who.”

McCarroll said he remains committed to helping police solve Smith’s murder and proposed asking for help from club members to generate leads.

He also presented a list of requests to the council that he said would make the area safer, including building a fence between the two properties, increasing police patrols near closing time and helping him create an open dialogue with the police department.

“If this group can make it to where the police will allow us to inform them (about problems)... without penalty of being closed down for calling, then we should be able to head off some of the tragedies and problems that exist,” McCarroll said.

He did not return multiple messages left Thursday afternoon seeking additional comment.

According to department records, police were called to Lost Dimensions 115 times in the past two years, compared with 790 calls at Budget Inn.

Despite those figures, Harry Jariwala, owner of Budget Inn, pointed blame back at Lost Dimensions.

He said many of the 911 calls attributed to his business actually come from the club, saying his sign is more visible from the road and club patrons often use his address as their location.

“I have problems (at my business) but I am cooperative with other businesses, the city and police,” Jariwala said, saying he kicks out problematic renters when police notify him of problems.

“I have owned this business for 11 years. We have not had any homicides here ... in the 48 years the business has been here. (The club) is troubling my business and people who want to come here are scared.”

Bellamy declined to elaborate on the facts he has to support the club’s closure, but said he welcomes the opportunity to make the presentation to the council and discuss making Farragut Street safer.

“We are going to make the best out of this situation,” Bellamy said. “If the people above me don’t want to pursue (the closure) that’s what we’ll do.”

Contact Ryan Seals at 373-7077 or ryan.seals@news-record.com