Centerfolds has been closed since January 30, the day the Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control indefinitely suspended the cabaret’s license. The move was in response to the arrests of two employees connected with the recent beating death of local off-duty firefighter Luke Jones outside of the club.
And according to the Phoenix Police Department, some heinous activity was involved with the deadly incident, including one Centerfolds employee allegedly trying to cover things up.
Jones, 37, was at Centerfolds on January 21 when he was allegedly pushed to the ground and beaten by doorman Brandon Draper in the parking lot outside the club. Police officials state that Jones, an employee of the Daisy Mountain Fire Department, had his left arm in a brace and was unable to defend himself. He was later transported to a local hospital, where he died from his injuries. Draper was arrested on second-degree murder charges and is currently awaiting trial.
No information regarding what caused the fight has been released as of this writing.
Centerfolds manager Timothy John Piegari was also
According to liquor department spokesperson Jeffery Trillo, the club’s license was suspended due to Centerfolds employees failing to protect the safety of its customers and properly report the incident to law enforcement, as well as the fact that a “serious act of violence” happened at the establishment.
A hearing on the matter is scheduled for early March and will determine if the suspension will continue, fines will be levied, or the club’s license will be revoked.
Centerfolds Cabaret proprietors chose to close down the place for the foreseeable future as a result of the license suspension, New Times has learned.
Several Centerfolds employees have stated that the club closed down on January 30 with no immediate plans on reopening. New Times also spoke with Timothy Warbington, a managing member of West Coast Sports (the parent company of Centerfolds), who confirmed the
