Judge closes nightclub for drug, weapons issues
Published 1:34 pm Monday, February 4, 2019
Authorities say a Mississippi judge has closed a nightclub over allegations that crime involving drugs, weapons and gambling has been happening there.
News outlets report that authorities served a search warrant at Club Empire in Hattiesburg and closed it Friday.
The district attorney for Forrest and Perry counties, Patricia Burchell, says in a statement that a chancery judge signed a temporary restraining order to close the club. Burchell says she filed a petition requesting the order because of violence and illegal activity that has occurred there recently.
Hattiesburg police spokesman Ryan Moore says there were two aggravated assaults involving guns at the club last month.
A hearing will be held before the judge to determine if Club Empire will reopen. It’s unclear if the club has lawyers who could comment.