INDIANAPOLIS -- Indianapolis police were called to the Cherri Palace night club Tuesday night after the crowd grew out of control – at least the fifth time police have been called to the club this year.
According to the incident report, police were called to the club, located at the intersection of 38th Street and Lafayette Road on the west side, shortly before 1 a.m. when private security was not able to control the crowd.
A fire marshal was also called to the scene after club patrons refused to comply with police orders to move away from the door of the club. Owner John Dixon was warned the club would be shut down for the night if the crowd couldn't be controlled.
IMPD said similar incidents have been an "ongoing problem" at the club. In March alone, police were called to the club three times: once for a disturbance; once for a person assaulted; and once for a fight between three dancers.
The club was also the scene of a violent attack caught on video in which a man can be seen body slamming and punching two dancers.
MORE | Exotic dancers attacked on stage at nightclub on Indy's west side
One of the victims, Shapree Bailey, of St. Louis, told RTV6 she was scratched and bruised in the assault. The second victim, Jimmiesha Rankin, said the club's security guards collected the money meant for the dancers while the attack was happening, and never handed it over to them.
“As we were getting attacked the security guards were picking our money up,” said Jimmiesha. “A floor full of money and we didn’t get one dollar.”
Another video, uploaded to YouTube on April 19, shows a large brawl inside Cherri Palace. The video's description claims the brawl was a fight between rival members of east side and west side gangs.
IMPD says it wasn't called in connection with that incident.
The club has operated under several names in recent years, including Babes West and Pure Passion West. According to the Indianapolis Department of Business and Neighborhood Services (formerly the Department of Code Enforcement), there are no ongoing investigations involving the property.
The club contracts with Genesis Security LLC for security services. Repeated calls to the club and to Genesis Security for comment on this story were not returned.
