VAIDEN - The owner of a night club here has filed a complaint in U.S. District Court against the town's mayor and aldermen, police chief and a police officer for shutting him down.
Charles H. Brown, who owns the Showcase Lounge, has included Carroll County, Chief Deputy Michael Spellman and Deputy Richard Redditt as defendants in the complaint.
Brown wants the judge to immediately issue an order making the town return his business license and beer and light wine permit. Town police officers and county deputies pulled the two documents after an incident March 12.
Brown also seeks $625 in bond and process fees stemming from an arrest later and an unnamed amount of compensation for the pain and suffering caused by the lack of the documents.
Preston "Bo" Rideout, a Greenwood attorney representing Brown, said Monday that the 21-page complaint filed recently in U.S. District Court is detailed. He declined further comment.
Michael Wolf, a Jackson attorney representing Vaiden, also declined to talk about the lawsuit.
Court documents show that in March, Showcase closed at its regular 2 a.m. time required by Vaiden ordinance. About 300 people left.
According to Brown's account, someone on an adjacent public road began discharging a firearm into the air. A private security guard hired by Brown called police immediately.
Gunfire also came from a nearby truck stop, according to Brown's complaint.
After the melee settled down the police officer and deputies took Brown's privilege license and his beer and light wine permit and said the license was suspended.
Brown maintains he was told he would get back his license after an investigation by the town.
Vaiden town officials had two meetings. Brown was not notified of either, according to his complaint.
More than two weeks after the incident, town authorities arrested Brown for disturbing the peace. - because of the gunfire. The Municipal Court judge found Brown guilty of the misdemeanor.
Brown has appealed the conviction in Carroll County Circuit Court.
On May 9, Brown received a letter from the city's attorney that claimed the Showcase Lounge was a problem site. The letter listed some incidences.
In his complaint, Brown asserts he took action on at least one. In December 2004, several young men from Vaiden beat up a man from Winona, who suffered "minor injuries," the complaint said.
Brown pressed charges against the attackers.
In the legal filing, Brown asserted that Vaiden police caused more of a problem by spraying mace in the air and causing a stampede of people from the club.
Another incident in 2005 was from an anniversary party. This was a private affair and the hosts had their own security, Brown stated, adding that he only leased the building to them.
In mid-June Brown asked for his privilege license back. He said he wanted to rent out the club. Brown contends he was turned down because of "pending litigation."
