How to crash a Lap dance

AZTEC, New Mexico — A 37-year-old Aztec man was arrested March 4 after refusing to pay for lap dances at a local strip club, and then drunkenly driving his van three feet into the Flora Vista business.

San Juan County Sheriff's Office deputies arrested Jerome Charley for driving while intoxicated outside Lydia Rippey Elementary School in Aztec, Lt. Tyler Truby said.
At the time of his arrest, Charley had a .15 blood alcohol content, which is almost double the legal driving limit of .08, Truby said.

Deputies were then able to link Charley to an earlier incident at Tom Katz, where Charley reportedly refused to pay for several lap dances and then took his frustration out on a bouncer.

At around 1 a.m. March 4, deputies were called to the Flora Vista strip club after employees reported that someone had driven into the side of building with a van, Truby said. Deputies were provided a description of the van and a possible license plate number, and arrested Charley before arriving at Tom Katz.

When deputies later arrived at the club,they learned Charley had been there and was receiving lap dances from some of the female dancers. When Charley refused to pay for some of the dances, bouncers began to escort him out of the building.

Charley "became belligerent and attempted to hit one of the bouncers," Truby said. Once outside the building, Charley paid for his dances and got into his van to leave.
The bouncers went back into the building when they heard a loud crash.

"Witnesses heard a loud noise, looked over and the doors were almost pushed open and there was a lot of light coming through," Truby said. "That's when (Charley) backed up his van and started driving at the building again."

One bouncer was forced to jump inside an office near the front doors when Charley rammed the entrance. The van eventually came to a stop nearly three feet inside the strip club. Charley then backed out of the club and drove toward Aztec.

Truby said the incident was a rare occurrence, noting the damage to the building was estimated to be $1,000. "This is the first time I'm aware of a vehicle driving into Tom Katz," he said.

Charley was charged with aggravated assault with intent to commit a violent felony, a third-degree felony; two counts of aggravated assault, both fourth-degree felonies; one count of criminal damage to property, a fourth-degree felony; DUI, a misdemeanor; and having an open container, a petty misdemeanor.

If convicted on all charges, Charley faces a maximum sentence of eight and a half years in prison.