By Tessa Roy, WPRO News
Following the arrests of three Foxy Lady employees on prostitution charges, the Providence Board of Licenses ordered the strip club closed until at least Thursday night.
Police arrested and charged Lindsay Hoffman, 30; Neish Rivera, 25; and Melissa McNeely, 32 on Tuesday night. Police reports indicate the women invited male patrons into a private “VIP” room and offered different services, including oral sex or “anything you want,” for at least $300.
Though police claimed it appeared the club had knowledge of prostitution happening there, one of its managers Richard Angell said that’s not the case.
“This is not the way we run our business,” he told reporters at an emergency Board of Licenses meeting about the club on Wednesday.
Police said they began investigating Foxy Lady weeks ago after another woman working there reported that she was sexually assaulted by a male patron. Providence Police Major David Lapatin said the investigation is ongoing and he’s not sure yet if there will be further arrests.
“This runs both ways. We have an obligation to protect the women as well as the men. Most of them are victims,” he said.
Police reports say the three women were released and have more court dates later this month. The Board of Licenses will make more decisions about the club’s future at another meeting on Thursday night, but Lapatin already had some ideas.
“This is a prostitution parlor. We’re not going to allow it. So we’re going to do whatever we can to shut it down,” he said.
