Archive for Sunday, May 21, 2006
Metal detectors used after shots at club
May 21, 2006
Advertisement
After the gunshot incident a week ago, management at the nightclub Last Call, 729 N.H., started requiring customers to pass through metal detectors before being admitted Saturday night.
"Let me put it this way: It will be easier to smuggle something into the White House than to get it into here tonight," the club's owner, Dennis Steffes, said as he checked out a large walk-through metal detector.
Steffes confirmed the club would implement extra security measures in addition to the walk-through detector, including quadruple the amount of surveillance equipment inside.
Early May 14, about 200 people fled into the street after someone fired several shots inside the club. No one was injured, but police found seven shell casings from a .22-caliber gun inside.
Steffes said his staff was working with police to identify the shooter, and he called it a "matter of time before this thing is figured out" because the incident was captured on a security camera.
Before the club's new policy, long lines outside the nightclub were common on Saturday evenings as customers waited to pass several bouncers and security guards visible from the outside.
More like this
- Off-duty police needed to aid security, owner says 31 comments / June 25, 2006
- City weighing options for dealing with rowdiness, violence at bars 42 comments / June 3, 2006
- Mayor balks at cameras for city safety 61 comments / July 11, 2006
- Last Call owner questions presence of police dog 78 comments / December 27, 2005
- Owner pulls plug on Last Call 78 comments / February 14, 2008
Top ads RSS
Marketplace
Arts & Entertainment · Bars · Theatres · Restaurants · Coffeehouses · Libraries · Antiques · Services
- Blog: Song Titles And Lyrics: Nonsensical Non Word Songs! November 9, 2009 · 96 comments
- Blog: Dillons, Hyvee, And Checkers — I'Ve Shopped And Compared. See The Results. November 8, 2009 · 189 comments
- Suddenly, Kansas vexed by run November 9, 2009 · 11 comments
- 'White Owl' held in jail in connection with protective order case November 9, 2009 · 51 comments
- Commissioner wants street work to be done by local unemployed people, but federal regulations disagree November 9, 2009 · 24 comments
- Crumbling of Berlin Wall still worth celebrating November 8, 2009 · 51 comments
- Roeder confesses to shooting abortion doctor November 9, 2009 · 50 comments
- On the street: How do you like your peanut butter sandwiches? November 9, 2009 · 62 comments
- Blog: I Am A Stripper. November 3, 2009 · 344 comments
- House health care bill is likely to stall in Senate November 9, 2009 · 46 comments
- 'White Owl' held in jail in connection with protective order case November 9, 2009
- KU grad student who accidentally ingested chemical is released from LMH November 9, 2009
- Agency offering free sessions on 'Coping with Holiday Grief' November 9, 2009
- Five downtown Lawrence businesses report burglaries over the weekend November 9, 2009
- Statehouse Live: More jobless benefits available to Kansas; Commission draws line in sand on school funding November 9, 2009
- KU football's final three games will be on ABC November 9, 2009
- Topeka man in serious condition after accident west of Baldwin City November 9, 2009
- 50th anniversary of slayings memorialized by 'In Cold Blood' approaches November 9, 2009
- Public invited to Wednesday's free seminar on Twitter November 9, 2009
- 'In Cold Blood' tombstones on display after long ordeal November 4, 2001
21 May 2006
at 6:29 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
DownHomeDude (Anonymous) says…
Regardless of the added security, the Last Call still
needs to be given its last call. The bottom line is that
this place brings the bad elements from Topeka and
Kansas City to Lawrence and it needs to be shut down
permenently. Maybe the police could get a judge to
declare the Last Call a “public nuisance” and padlock
the door. Once this is done, the place is considered to
be officially out of business and if the owner removes
the padlock he/she can and will be arrested by the
police!
DHD
21 May 2006
at 6:57 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
pundit (Anonymous) says…
DHD is correct. The police and city staff need to get with it. Revoke their liquor license based on public nuisance.
21 May 2006
at 7:17 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
bmwjhawk (Anonymous) says…
Hehheh. Steffes and his crazy hyperbole.
Will someone PLEASE take the White House/Last Call gun-smuggling challenge?
21 May 2006
at 7:33 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
cowboy (Anonymous) says…
Its long past time to close this slimy biz down. Is this the vision for downtown ?
21 May 2006
at 9:11 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
andilynn (Anonymous) says…
Just to let everyone know, Dennis is an awesome owner. He does all he can to make his clubs the best for people. Just because dumb people screw around in his clubs, does not mean he should have to close them down. I am sorry, it that was the case, then every bar, in every city should be closed. Every bar I have been in has had some sort of fight. Most of the time it is a fist fight, but about 40% of the time, there is a weapon of some sort invovled. If you don't like the way that Dennis is running things, then don't go, and don't read stories about his clubs. If you have a logical suggestion as to how to improve his clubs, 9 times out of 10 he will listen and take them into concideration. He does what he can. Dennis you rock. I love Coyotes.
21 May 2006
at 10:23 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
cowboy (Anonymous) says…
I have a suggestion , move your clubs to Topeka , closer to your clientele.
21 May 2006
at 10:29 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
bearded_gnome (Anonymous) says…
maybe should read: “mental detectors? to screen patrons???
22 May 2006
at 2:57 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
awhitebread11 (Anonymous) says…
better yet, rather than shut down the clubs that bring in these “negative” elements from Topeka and K.C., let's take a page from the ancient Chinese and build the “Great Wall of Lawrence!” I hear this will also keep pesky Mongolians at bay too!
22 May 2006
at 2:58 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
egypt (Anonymous) says…
I actully was at the bottleneck this weekend for a show, as I was walking by I was asked to walk threw the metal detectors at last call because I had metal on my clothes needless to say I did not set off there metal detectors.
I also was told later while goign to my car it was not safe to walk alone past that club and not to park my car in there parking lot but across the street, because the club was open till 3:00am
I allways thought of lawrence as being fun and safe, but now walking down that street (and being from Topeka) I was told by many people it was unsafe to walk past that club or park my car there.
How does a club like that get to stay open untill 3:00am and why would they keep the club open knowing there metal detecors actully where not functioning?
22 May 2006
at 4:50 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
AmyR (Anonymous) says…
Does anyone else see a problem? When the owner uses a metal detector and pats you down before you enter, it is obvious he does not trust his own customers. I have an idea. Don't attract customers you suspect will carry guns. I hear this guy ownes coyotes also. Are metal detectors being used there also?
23 May 2006
at 12:47 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
Calliope877 (Anonymous) says…
I'm just glad I don't go out to the clubs anymore. Downtown Lawrence has gone to hell as far as I'm concerned.:( I mean, it's NEVER safe for a young female to walk alone at night, but now I wouldn't feel safe in the clubs either. It makes me sad.