ST. PAUL, MINN. – The Hennepin County Sheriff’s department is investigating allegations of criminal sexual conduct by Vikings players after a boat cruise on Lake Minnetonka devolved into an out-of-control party including lap dances and sexual acts, according to an attorney for the charter boat company.

Stephen Doyle, a lawyer representing the owners of Al and Alma’s, a company that charters cruises on the lake, said cornerback Fred Smoot and another Vikings player, whom he declined to name, reserved two boats for a night-time excursion last Thursday.

A woman called Mound police Thursday night to report allegations of “possible prostitution, drugs and live sex acts” on the two boats. According to the police report, Ann Johnson said she served as a hostess.

Doyle said he learned details of what allegedly happened when he sat down Tuesday with six of the eight crew members.

Doyle said about 90 people were on the two boats.

On Tuesday, Smoot indicated that the allegations are exaggerated: “It’s slanderous. If (Doyle is) bringing my name up like this, I’m going to sue them. Other than that, I ain’t got nothing else to say.”

The Vikings released a statement Tuesday night: “The organization has been made aware of the allegations involving our players and we take these allegations very seriously. We are working diligently to gather as many facts as possible.”

Sgt. Haans Vitek of the Hennepin County Sheriff’s department said the investigation is ongoing.

Doyle said that the boats “were out for a bit, and the crew was serving drinks and hors d’oeuvres and stuff,” he said. “I think the first thing they noticed was some of the women that were onboard seemed to be either changing clothes or undressing. And then they went into a galley, and there were three of them in the nude that were changing clothes. That was followed by them coming out and some of them doing lap dances.”

Doyle said that the crew feared for its safety from the unruly players. “There are people doing sexual acts with toys in the middle of the floor. They’re … having to walk around and serve a drink, afraid to stop serving drinks because they’re afraid that people will hurt them.”

Doyle said he planned to meet today with the police.

An NFL spokesman declined comment on the allegations against Vikings players, but the league’s personal conduct policy states that league employees can be subject to discipline.

KSTP.com: Vikings Head Coach Mike Tice appeared before the media Wednesday afternoon and said he was not happy about the allegations of a sex party made against his team. He said he could not answer specific questions about the allegations because the Vikings administration is still investigating the incident.

Quarterback Daunte Culpepper walked off of the podium when pressed repeatedly on the allegations and did not say whether or not he was involved.

“It’s my job to pull this team together,” Tice said.

Tice said the allegations couldn’t come at a worse time for the struggling team.

Authorities on Tuesday were investigating whether Minnesota Vikings players were involved in allegations of lewd behavior on two Lake Minnetonka charter boats last week.

No criminal charges had been filed by Tuesday evening.

Stephen Doyle, an attorney representing the boat owners, said at least 20 Vikings players were part of a group of 90 people who went out on a pair of Al and Alma’s charter cruises last Thursday night.

Doyle said the outing ended early and the boats returned to shore when staff members complained to the captains that some of the people on board were engaging in sexual acts and taking off their clothes.

“The scope of it, the nature of it and the location of it add up to pretty bizarre behavior,” said Doyle.

The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office said the incident was reported Sunday. Sgt. Hans Vitek declined to comment on whether any Vikings were involved.

“From what we’re hearing, it certainly sounds that way, but we want to get it right from the people that were there,” Vitek said. “We’re trying to sort out all the facts and see if any of it even rises to a criminal act, or whether it was just people who were offended.”

The team issued a one-paragraph statement saying: “The organization has been made aware of the allegations involving our players and we take these allegations very seriously. We are working diligently to gather as many facts as possible. At this time, we have no further comment.”