By Jay Price
The News & Observer
CLAYTON, N.C. — Investigators suspect arson in Sunday’s fire that destroyed the Crazy Horse strip club on U.S. 70 near Clayton, according to a search warrant released Friday.
“After extinguishing the fire, fire experts including Deputy Fire Marshal Donnell Braxton detected a strong odor of gasoline in the area,” the warrant said. “This is unusual at fire scenes and qualified law enforcement and fire investigators believe this to be an indicator of arson.”
Wake County Fire Marshal Ray Echevarria said Thursday that the cause was still under investigation and that he couldn’t comment further.
Investigators are probably a week to two from determining the cause, Echevarria said. They finished gathering evidence at the scene Thursday and turned over some to the State Bureau of Investigation for analysis, he said.
The Wake County Sheriff’s Office also is involved in the investigation. A department spokeswoman said late Friday afternoon that there was nothing new to report.
According to the warrant, investigators took evidence including checks, insurance enrollment forms and samples of carpeting, ceiling tile, soil and concrete from what remained of the club.
The fire began about 5:30 a.m., when the club was closed and unoccupied. One of the 35 firefighters who responded to the blaze suffered minor injuries.
At the time of the fire, the club’s owners were facing fines and a 10-day suspension because state investigators reported witnessing lewd conduct by dancers there. During visits by state Alcohol Law Enforcement agents during a three-month stretch early last year, dancers exposed themselves to patrons more than is legal and engaged in other inappropriate acts, investigators charged.
Also, dancers drank with customers, and club employees allowed patrons to enter immediately upon joining, rather than having to wait the state-mandated three days, both state violations.
Jerry Reid, a co-owner of the club, disputed some of the allegations in an interview after the fire, and said he planned to rebuild.
The Crazy Horse is one of six establishments in the Aberdeen-based Pure Gold chain.
Copyright 2008 The News and Observer