MONSON - Police on Sunday evening executed a search warrant for the Magic Lantern strip club after management would not allow police inside as part of an investigation of a reported shooting several hours earlier in the parking lot, police said.
Chief Stephen Kozloski said the shooting occurred at around 1 a.m. at the Boston Road strip club but it was not reported to police for more than 12 hours later.
Police were notified of the incident by bar patrons, not club management.
Kozloski said officers responded to the scene Sunday afternoon and found evidence of gunfire in the parking lot. There were multiple shell casings on the ground in the lot, but nothing to indicate that anyone had been hit. No gunshot victims were admitted at any local hospitals either, he said.
When police tried to go inside the club as part of the investigation, the management told officers they would need a warrant, Kozloski said.
Officers obtained the search warrant from district court and served it at around 9 p.m., he said.
He described management of the club as uncooperative until police served the warrant.
Evidence recovered inside the club is now being reviewed by investigators. Included in that is recorded footage from the club’s surveillance system, he said.
Kozloski said police have notified the town licensing board about the incident, but have not requested a formal hear or filed a complaint against the club. Police have not contacted the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission.
The police investigation is considered active, and town police are being assisted by the state police Detective Unit, he said.
It was just in the parking lot.
If I was in there and gunfire broke out - zipped flies be damned - I'll go from VIP to MIA ASAP.
There will be a trail of paper towels unrolling for 20 yards as I make my escape!
Chief Stephen Kozloski said the shooting occurred at around 1 a.m. at the Boston Road strip club but it was not reported to police for more than 12 hours later.
Police were notified of the incident by bar patrons, not club management.
Kozloski said officers responded to the scene Sunday afternoon and found evidence of gunfire in the parking lot. There were multiple shell casings on the ground in the lot, but nothing to indicate that anyone had been hit. No gunshot victims were admitted at any local hospitals either, he said.
When police tried to go inside the club as part of the investigation, the management told officers they would need a warrant, Kozloski said.
Officers obtained the search warrant from district court and served it at around 9 p.m., he said.
He described management of the club as uncooperative until police served the warrant.
Evidence recovered inside the club is now being reviewed by investigators. Included in that is recorded footage from the club’s surveillance system, he said.
Kozloski said police have notified the town licensing board about the incident, but have not requested a formal hear or filed a complaint against the club. Police have not contacted the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission.
The police investigation is considered active, and town police are being assisted by the state police Detective Unit, he said.
Monson police search Magic Lantern for evidence of early Sunday gunfire
Police obtained a district court search warrant for the strip club after management declined to allow police into the club, police said.
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It was just in the parking lot.
If I was in there and gunfire broke out - zipped flies be damned - I'll go from VIP to MIA ASAP.
There will be a trail of paper towels unrolling for 20 yards as I make my escape!