Contributed by:
Erin Feese/YourHub.com
on 7/17/2006
FEDERAL HEIGHTS -- Federal Heights Mayor
Dale Sparks attempted to compromise the undercover investigation at the all-nude
Bare Essence nightclub, according to a Federal Heights police report obtained by
YourHub.com Friday.
Beginning last March, detectives from North Metro Task Force and the Federal Heights Police Department began an undercover operation at the nightclub to investigate illegal activity including prostitution, according to police reports. At that time, Sparks worked as a doorman for the nightclub.
Undercover detectives visited the club on a number of occasions to receive private dances and talk with women working at the club to determine possible violations to the Adult Entertainment Code and prostitution. In a conversation with one of the dancers on March 28, an undercover detective asked her if Sparks knew what goes on the club, according to reports. She said he was aware of what was going on.
According to police, Sparks was present at the club when dancers would engage in illegal activity.
see report
On April 5, officers set up a scenario to see how Sparks would react to an undercover officer, known to the mayor only, visiting the club, according to police reports.
The report states Sparks alerted employees of Bare Essence to the officer's presence. Police believe Sparks attempted to expose the identity of the undercover detectives to the owner of the club as well. Following this incident, police discovered Sparks tried to find out about a possible investigation at the club, according to reports.
On April 15, a search warrant was obtained for Bare Essence and 10 arrest warrants were issued for club employees.
During an interview with police that night, Sparks adamantly denied he had any knowledge of violations at the club, according to police reports. He did admit that he pointed out a detective from the North Metro Task Force to the club's bartender.
In a story posted on YourHub.com on April 18, Sparks wrote that he had no knowledge of the activities stated in the arrest warrants.
"Make no mistake, I do not want or condone that type of activity in our city," Sparks wrote.
Following the April 15 search, Sparks took a leave of absence from his position as mayor and returned in June.
He was unable to be reached for comment Friday.
According to the report, police believe the club's owner,
Leonid Tsodikov, employed Sparks for protection from the police.
Attempts to reach an employee of Bare Essence were unsuccessful.
Ted May,who is with the Committee to Recall Dale Sparks as Mayor, said, "I am incredibly proud of the Federal Heights Police Department and the work they did related to the Bare Essence police investigation."
After reading the report, May said he did not feel vindicated like he expected, just "incredibly sad."
"Dale Sparks is not representative of the people of Federal Heights or the city," he said. "The Federal Heights Police Department are."
Read the summary police report
here.
Read the police department's interview with the mayor
here.
Post your thoughts on the situation here.