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Authorities in Chicago Threatening Criminal Charges Against Nightclub
Aired February 18, 2003 - 07:36 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Authorities in Chicago are threatening to seek criminal charges against the Chicago nightclub where 21 people died in a stampede. City officials say the owners violated a court order by keeping the club open.
Let's check in with Jeff Flock, who has the very latest on the investigation from Chicago this morning -- good morning, Jeff.
How cold it is there, before we talk the more serious story?
JEFF FLOCK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, it's cold right at moment, Paula. It's going to warm up here today, but it's still a difficult day in Chicago.
Perhaps you see the E2 nightclub, which is on the second floor of The Epitome Restaurant back here and the makeshift memorial that has been set up out here. Indeed, that's a big dispute today. The city of Chicago says this club was under a court order not to be open. Attorneys for the club, though, say they had an agreement to keep the club open and the city knew about it.
Let's give a listen to both sides.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COMM. JAMES JOYCE, CHICAGO FIRE DEPARTMENT: The owner knows damn well that he is not to open that second floor facility and he has chosen to at least on one occasion that we know of.
ANDRE GRANT, ATTORNEY FOR NIGHTCLUB: That is incorrect. There was an agreement between attorneys for Epitome Chicago, an agreement between the city's attorneys to use E2's upstairs. The only agreement or the only prohibition was not to use the VIP sections on the north side of the building.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FLOCK: The dispute, Paula, is about the second level of the second floor. The club has two levels itself. The understanding of the club owners was they couldn't use the second level of the second floor. The understanding of the city is that they couldn't use the second level of the building at all.
So, independent of all of that dispute, however, it comes down to how did this actually unfold? As you know, the report is pepper spray or mace spray to try and put an end to an altercation that took place in the club. Some other folks are telling us, though, that were inside, that when they smelled pepper spray or there was a report of that inside the club, given that they're on a hair trigger about terrorist attack, the first thought was poison gas and, in fact, some people shouted out, "Poison gas! Terrorist attack!"
Maybe that contributed to it. At this point still we don't know -- Paula.
ZAHN: Thanks so much.
Jeff Flock reporting from Chicago for us this morning.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Against Nightclub>
Aired February 18, 2003 - 07:36 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Authorities in Chicago are threatening to seek criminal charges against the Chicago nightclub where 21 people died in a stampede. City officials say the owners violated a court order by keeping the club open.
Let's check in with Jeff Flock, who has the very latest on the investigation from Chicago this morning -- good morning, Jeff.
How cold it is there, before we talk the more serious story?
JEFF FLOCK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, it's cold right at moment, Paula. It's going to warm up here today, but it's still a difficult day in Chicago.
Perhaps you see the E2 nightclub, which is on the second floor of The Epitome Restaurant back here and the makeshift memorial that has been set up out here. Indeed, that's a big dispute today. The city of Chicago says this club was under a court order not to be open. Attorneys for the club, though, say they had an agreement to keep the club open and the city knew about it.
Let's give a listen to both sides.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COMM. JAMES JOYCE, CHICAGO FIRE DEPARTMENT: The owner knows damn well that he is not to open that second floor facility and he has chosen to at least on one occasion that we know of.
ANDRE GRANT, ATTORNEY FOR NIGHTCLUB: That is incorrect. There was an agreement between attorneys for Epitome Chicago, an agreement between the city's attorneys to use E2's upstairs. The only agreement or the only prohibition was not to use the VIP sections on the north side of the building.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FLOCK: The dispute, Paula, is about the second level of the second floor. The club has two levels itself. The understanding of the club owners was they couldn't use the second level of the second floor. The understanding of the city is that they couldn't use the second level of the building at all.
So, independent of all of that dispute, however, it comes down to how did this actually unfold? As you know, the report is pepper spray or mace spray to try and put an end to an altercation that took place in the club. Some other folks are telling us, though, that were inside, that when they smelled pepper spray or there was a report of that inside the club, given that they're on a hair trigger about terrorist attack, the first thought was poison gas and, in fact, some people shouted out, "Poison gas! Terrorist attack!"
Maybe that contributed to it. At this point still we don't know -- Paula.
ZAHN: Thanks so much.
Jeff Flock reporting from Chicago for us this morning.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Against Nightclub>
