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'Church' owner says First Amendment shields clubs
NEWS 8 EXCLUSIVE
DALLAS — Glenn Hudson appeared in court on Tuesday to answer some questions about his controversial clubs: The DarkSide and The Playground.
News 8 caught up with him outside the courtroom. Hudson denied that he's operating a swingers club and a rave club.
"No, ma'am," he said. "We have outreach programs that are catering to the youth and disadvantaged people in the communities trying to provide an alternative to what currently exists, which are drug-infested."
But the City of Dallas says it's The DarkSide that is drug-infested. Police sent in undercover officers and allege they saw drug sales.
At The Playground, police said they found evidence of a swingers club.
The city has alleged that Hudson is trying to avoid tax laws by operating clubs as churches. "I don't have any knowledge of that," he said.
Both locations have a certificate of occupancy suitable for a church, mosque or synagogue.
After monitoring both clubs around the clock, the is trying to shut the clubs down. Hudson says that violates his constitutional rights.
"First Amendment, freedom of religion," he said. "Just because they don't agree with what we believe in."
But Assistant City Attorney Melissa Miles asserts that there is no mistaking what it taking place at The DarkSide and The Playground. "There are no religious activities," she said.
Hudson claims to be a minister. Police believe he was ordained through a Web site.
News 8 tried to ask Hudson more about his ministry, but he blessed us and refused to answer any more questions.
The city did convince a judge to temporarily shut down The Playground, but The DarkSide is still open for business.
There will be a hearing on August 3 to determine if the city can close down both of the clubs permanently.
NEWS 8 EXCLUSIVE
DALLAS — Glenn Hudson appeared in court on Tuesday to answer some questions about his controversial clubs: The DarkSide and The Playground.
News 8 caught up with him outside the courtroom. Hudson denied that he's operating a swingers club and a rave club.
"No, ma'am," he said. "We have outreach programs that are catering to the youth and disadvantaged people in the communities trying to provide an alternative to what currently exists, which are drug-infested."
But the City of Dallas says it's The DarkSide that is drug-infested. Police sent in undercover officers and allege they saw drug sales.
At The Playground, police said they found evidence of a swingers club.
The city has alleged that Hudson is trying to avoid tax laws by operating clubs as churches. "I don't have any knowledge of that," he said.
Both locations have a certificate of occupancy suitable for a church, mosque or synagogue.
After monitoring both clubs around the clock, the is trying to shut the clubs down. Hudson says that violates his constitutional rights.
"First Amendment, freedom of religion," he said. "Just because they don't agree with what we believe in."
But Assistant City Attorney Melissa Miles asserts that there is no mistaking what it taking place at The DarkSide and The Playground. "There are no religious activities," she said.
Hudson claims to be a minister. Police believe he was ordained through a Web site.
News 8 tried to ask Hudson more about his ministry, but he blessed us and refused to answer any more questions.
The city did convince a judge to temporarily shut down The Playground, but The DarkSide is still open for business.
There will be a hearing on August 3 to determine if the city can close down both of the clubs permanently.
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