BY SARAH STEPHENS
ELMORE/AUTAUGA NEWS
Prattville Police Chief Mark Thompson didn’t mince words at a Police Committee meeting Wednesday night concerning two recent shooting incidents at the Blue Iguana, and what he calls a history with his officers responding to calls over the past few years.
Chief Thompson wants their liquor license pulled.
Committee members at the meeting Wednesday were Prattville City Council members Jerry Starnes, Robert Strichik and Blair Gornto.
“Here recently we have had two shootings at the Blue Iguana,” Thompson said. “In the first, a subject went outside, retrieved a weapon, came back into the Blue Iguana, waved (the gun) around. They escorted him out and he got outside and started firing rounds. One of the security guards returned fire. No one was hit, but this was all in the parking lot of the Blue Iguana.”
He then continued, “On Aug. 6 we had two subjects, brothers, come there to meet their cousins at the Blue Iguana. They got in an argument and one brother shot the other in the chest. This was in a private parking lot. And they were, despite was social media says, going to the Blue Iguana. We are starting to see an increase with arguments being tied up at closing time (for the bar) because they (customers) don’t want to leave the parking lot.
“We have had some drug arrests up there. In 2019 we had 200 calls at that parking lot. In 2020 because of Covid it went down a little bit. But most of the calls were fights, domestics, disturbances. We requested that we try and get them to a Lounge License. They are operating right now under Bama Lanes’ liquor license, a restaurant license. But they are a full-blown bar.
“I have copies over the years of the activities going on inside the Blue Iguana. It is almost a strip bar with some of the events they are having. They have had anything from midget wrestling, to like I said…they have never got completely naked, but they were giving out money to females. It is a continuing escalation at Blue Iguana. They made the statement on social media that they are continuing to work with the police department but I have yet to be contacted by anybody with Blue Iguana or Bama Lanes. So I don’t know who they are talking to.”
One of those social media statements could pertain to the following that was posted by Bama Lanes on Aug. 7. It reads, “To our loyal Bama Lanes Prattville customers —
Your safety is our top priority, so we wanted to clear up any confusion regarding the incident that occurred late on Thursday night in the parking lot on our premises. The individuals involved were NOT customers of Bama Lanes Prattville or the Blue Iguana — but unfortunately stopped in our parking lot just moments before the altercation took place.
We are taking measures to increase our outdoor security and are seeking collaboration with the Prattville Police Department.
Thank you for your continued support!”
Thompson said in the last few weeks his third shift officers have been getting out on foot patrols in the area trying to keep calls to a minimum. “Since the (most recent) shooting, we haven’t had any issues in the last week. But it is just a matter of time before it goes back up. So, my request is we close them down period. Take their license. Because we are not having these issues at other local alcohol establishments. We very seldom get calls of this nature from anywhere else. It is always (Blue Iguana.)’
The victim in the most recent shooting remains in serious condition in an area hospital, Thompson said.
Thompson has talked with city officials concerning a letter to be sent to Blue Iguana regarding these issues.
“We need to start addressing this that we are looking at them and taking those steps. In my opinion the Blue Iguana needs to be totally different from Bama Lanes (regarding the liquor license,)” Thompson said.
He also said that in other nearby jurisdictions, such as Montgomery, security at bars with a lounge license have to be certified through the state regulatory board. He said that Blue Iguana does not have regulated security personnel.
Prattville’s Finance Director Daniel Oakley told committee members, “We have drafted a letter that basically puts the business on notice that we are having some problems.”
It will serve as notice that if things don’t quickly change, it will be turned over to the council to make changes. “What we recommend is that, at a bare minimum, to split the license as separate businesses (for Bama Lanes and the Blue Iguana). And to close off the go between (door) between the two businesses.”
Before action, if any, is taken there will be a public hearing where the public can come speak and voice their opinions on what they would like the council to do in reference to Blue Iguana.
“After the first shooting I went up there,” Thompson said. “A male walked into the Blue Iguana. I went to the door and knocked and they wouldn’t open the door. That right there told me they aren’t going to work with us. My personal opinion as the Chief of Police is I am ready to close them down. I know there are certain procedures to pull their license.” He recommended some type of emergency order and to temporarily pull their license.
“It is ridiculous with the amount of calls. Two officers were contaminated in one of the shootings because of the blood they had on them. Yea, I am fed up with it,” Thompson said.
Officials again clarified, the issues are not with Bama Lanes and the bowling alley. They voiced concerns that pulling the license would negatively impact the bowling alley. No decisions were made at the committee meeting, as final authority to take any action would have to come through the Prattville City Council.
A date to set a public hearing could be decided at the next Prattville Council meeting Aug. 17, but we will update that as soon as we have more information.
We have reached out to Blue Iguana for comments related to the meeting and recent events, and will update when possible.
The Blue Iguana is a popular night club and music venue in Prattville and the largest in our immediate area. They have been in operation for 17 years next to Bama Lanes Bowling Alley. “The Blue” offers a wide variety of events including live music, poker tournaments and charity events. To learn more about the business, visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/theBluebarngrill04
