FIFTEEN strippers arrested during lunch-time roundup

Pasco County, Florida - Fifteen Pasco County nude dancers have dates in court after a lunch-time roundup.

Lt. Robert Sullivan, Pasco County Sheriff's Office:
”Historically we've done these things late at night, but our intelligence indicated that they were quite busy around the lunch hour and that a lot was occurring.”

Undercover deputies made the arrests at five strip clubs along U.S. 19. The women were arrested on various charges including solicitation of a beverage, exposure of a sexual organ, and prostitution.

They are the first strip club arrests since April of 2003 when a Pasco judge tossed out charges against ten dancers because Florida law didn't allow an undercover deputy to be the so-called "offended party." That all changed this year with a new law supported by Pasco legislators and signed by Gov. Jeb Bush.

Lt. Robert Sullivan:
”With this new law, it opened the door for me to send undercover officers back in to investigate, and see if the law is being violated.”

Before arresting the women Thursday, the undercover deputies watched nude dancers on stage, bought some of them drinks, and received lap dances from others.--