Toronto- from www.torontosun.com - An Etobicoke strip club owner has been charged by Toronto Police for allegedly having a handgun and trying to bribe a cop.
The charges were laid after detectives at 22 Division issued three search warrants on Thursday in Toronto and Markham in relation to a probe that began last May, Const. Wendy Drummond said yesterday.
Police said during one of their searches an empty handgun was found.
Drummond alleged an officer conducting a follow-up investigation on a case two months ago was allegedly offered money by the owner of The Devil's Playground, an adult entertainment club on Evans Ave. near Hwy. 27.
"The officer was offered money in exchange for being alerted to future police and bylaw enforcement activity at his two business locations," Drummond said. "It was an attempt to defeat the efforts of law enforcement."
She said the officer reported the solicitation to his supervisors and a probe began.
Police said as part of the investigation, the officer received money from the accused in exchange for information.
Themis Kyriakopoulos, 39, of Markham, has been charged with six weapons-related offences, one count of bribery of officer and attempt to obstruct justice.
He appeared for a bail hearing yesterday at a Finch Ave. W. court.
It's the second time in as many days that the adult industry raised eyebrows.
Yesterday, the Sun reported Toronto strip joints were battling massage parlours that are leaving erotic flyers on patrons' vehicles.
The explicit ads offer "oral, full service or discreet encounters," Tim Lambrinos of the Adult Entertainment Association of Canada said.
The flyers are distributed at strip clubs and the association wants a ban on the distribution to at least 800 metres of an adult bar.
Toronto Councillor Howard Moscoe said the three-year dispute between the two industries will be dealt with once the civic strike is over.
