Wednesday, October 29, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION: Mack sat in on meeting

Councilman at strip club during session between management, police, city official

During a visit to a topless club by police officers and a Las Vegas business license official last week, Councilman Michael Mack listened in on a meeting between officials from the city he's elected to help govern and the strip club he's paid to represent.

Las Vegas police investigators and Jim DiFiore, director of Las Vegas' Business License Department, visited Treasures Friday night, checking out a complaint that management hadn't been sufficiently forthcoming with police in the investigation of former NBA star Dennis Rodman's motorcycle crash near the club earlier this month. Rodman was cited on suspicion of drunken driving in connection with the incident.

Mack, who is a marketing consultant to the $30 million Treasures, would only comment briefly on the incident.

He confirmed he was at the club during city and police officials' appointment with management. He said, however, it was coincidental he was there at the same time.

Police said Mack did not interfere with their discussions or assert any pressure on them. His presence was not considered noteworthy enough for officers to even mention it in subsequent briefings, police said.

"The sergeant, of course, recognized him as Councilman Mack," said Undersheriff Doug Gillespie. "But at no time did the sergeant or any employees with our agency feel intimidated by the fact Councilman Mack was present."

DiFiore also confirmed Mack was at the meeting but declined further comment.

Officials met with two local club employees for about 20 minutes to discuss police complaints about management's lack of cooperation in their investigation of the crash. Treasure's owner David Davari participated in the meeting via telephone.

A few minutes after the meeting began, Mack arrived and stayed for the remainder of the time, according to police.

Regardless of whether officials felt pressured by Mack's presence, UNLV ethics professor Craig Walton said there's no question it was inappropriate for him to attend.

"He should have said, 'This is too small a wire to walk on and got out of there,' " Walton said. "Could he assure them, 'I'm here in my guise as PR man and not as a councilman?' Even to mention it could be an implicit threat."

City officials said it's routine for them to accompany police on visits to alcohol licensees after a police report has been filed, as was the case in the Rodman incident.

"Myself or my staff members may accompany Metro's enforcement unit on business license issues," DiFiore said.

Gillespie said officials left the meeting confident club management will be more cooperative in the future.

"They've assured us in the future we will receive the level of cooperation from management needed when we're on their premise," Gillespie said.