DALLAS — The City of Dallas is trying to shut down what police are calling an illegal rave club.
The owner of the building at 3027 West Northwest Highway, said he's operating a church. Dallas police maintain it is a rave club called Darkside.
"The owner responded to us that he was a minister with an organization called Universal Life Church, and that the location was used as a youth outreach ministry," said Dallas Senior Assistant City Attorney Melissa Miles.
Investigators agree that the club was reaching out to teens — but not in a good way.
"It was just a dance hall and drugs were rampant," Miles alleged. "Selling of drugs were rampant, and our investigators felt the group looked young."
Police and the city attorney said they were able to determine that the club's owner — Glen Hudson — became a minister on a Web site.
"He got it online, and I too went and filled in the blanks," Miles said. "If he's ordained, I'm ordained."
The City of Dallas said it conducted a three-month investigation using undercover officers. A few days ago, they got a call from a woman who said her daughter had been hurt here.
Dallas police arrested the club's manager, Tommy Gunn. They allege he sold drugs to minor females at the club and has been charged with indecency with a child.
News 8 went to the club searching for answers. We were met by a man claiming to also be a manager, but he told us he was not Tommy Gunn. He called Dallas police and the WFAA crew kicked off the property.
"Can you get these guys out of my face?" the man asked police.
The City of Dallas has now filed a lawsuit to shut down the Darkside club.
E-mail rlopez@wfaa.com
