HANAHAN, S.C.–According to Berkeley County court records, the owner of El Alamo is suing the the City of Hanahan after city leaders voted to shut the nightclub down last month.
Benjamin Reyna filed an appeal of the council’s decision on June 3rd, court records show.
In the lawsuit, the nightclub owner claims that he was “racially profiled” when city leaders agreed to terminate his business license.
Hanahan “has targeted (Reyna’s) business for dissimilar treatment because the plaintiff’s business is owned by a Hispanic person and his clientele is primarily Hispanic and minority,” according to the lawsuit.
During a special hearing, Hanahan Police Chief Dennis Turner detailed 49 reports of public urination, drug possession, driving under the influence and assaults.
According to The Post and Courier, one of those assaults was made on a police officer just this month. Since opening, there have reportedly been more than 40 arrests made at the establishment.
Meanwhile, Reyna’s attorney, Chris Romeo, said the club has had only two or three citations for noise or fire code violations.
“You have a lawful business that’s operating, essentially, very lawfully,” he told the newspaper. “And then you have patrons who have obviously caused some problems.”
To read more, click here.
