The lawsuits are filed against the State Fair of Texas, Meow Wolf in Grapevine, The Lucky Duck in San Antonio, the Factory in Deep Ellum and Texas Trust CU...
Ken Paxton sued four North Texas entertainment venues, including the Factory in Deep Ellum and Texas Trust CU Theatre in Grand Prairie. Crowds fill Big Tex Circle to take selfies with the larger-than-life cowboy and the Tower Building during the State Fair of Texas at Fair Park in Dallas, Monday, October 11, 2021.
2021 File Photo/The Dallas Morning NewsTexas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced Friday that he is suing five entertainment venues, four of which in North Texas, alleging they violated state law by refusing to allow police officers to enter with guns.didn’t allow off-duty officers to bring firearms on premises. That violates a 2017 law that allows officers to bring their weapons whether or not they’re on duty, according to the suit.The lawsuit against Meow Wolf was filed Feb. 21 in Tarrant County, according to court records. The announcement of the suit comes days after the attorney generalBefore filing a lawsuit, officials with the attorney general’s office wrote that it had received “written confirmations” from the businesses that they would follow Texas law,“Despite this, the OAG continued receiving complaints from peace officers that these establishments are violating the law,” officials said in the release. In the suit against Meow Wolf, which offers immersive art exhibits, Paxton alleges that its Grapevine location prohibited and restricted off-duty peace officers from entering with a weapon from at least July to the present.The suit cites three instances of off-duty officers being prohibited from doing so: a Dallas police SWAT sergeant on July 14; the River Oaks deputy chief of police three days later; and a Sherman police corporal on Nov. 18. In the example involving the River Oaks officer, the suit alleges that the venue’s safety and security manager told him “only on-duty officers were allowed to carry a weapon into Meow Wolf.” Meow Wolf did not immediately respond to a request for a comment. It’s unclear when the other suits were filed. In the suit against the Texas Trust CU Theatre, the state cites two examples. One involved an off-duty Fort Worth officer in April 2022 and another off-duty Dallas officer in April 2023. The suit alleges that the city of Grand Prairie advised the property owner about the need to comply with state law.The suit against the Factory in Deep Ellum lists at least nine alleged examples of off-duty officers being prohibited from carrying a gun into the venue dating back to October 2021. In two examples, the suit notes that one off-duty Plano officers was denied on three separate occasions and an off-duty Dallas officer was denied twice.The attorney general cites two examples for The Lucky Duck in its suit dating back to July 2022. Michael Bajec, one of the owners of the business, said in an emailed statement that he can’t comment on the details of the suit but denied the allegations. “We can say that we support all peace officers, and we have never denied a peace officer entry because they were carrying a gun,” Bajec wrote. Against the State Fair, the attorney general cited two examples of off-duty officers being restricted since October 2022. Karissa Condoianis, a State Fair spokesperson, said the venue “takes seriously its legal obligations to allow peace officers to lawfully carry their weapon at the fairgrounds.”“To that end, the State Fair requires at least one Dallas Police Officer to be posted at each admission gate to check credentials and ensure compliance,” Condoianis said. “This policy allows peace officers to deal face-to-face with fellow peace officers to ensure compliance and safety for all of our guests.” She added that the State Fair is looking into the alleged incident referenced in the suit to find out what may have happened. Thenotes that only those licensed to carry a handgun in a concealed manner can bring a gun to the fairgrounds. Paxton wrote in his statement that “Texas law must be respected to ensure the safety and well-being of our citizens.”“Peace officers are often well-positioned to prevent and suppress crime, even when they are out of uniform and off duty,” he said., Staff, Reporter. Zaeem Shaikh is a reporter covering breaking news for The Dallas Morning News. He grew up in Fresno, California, and graduated from Fresno State University in 2022. Before joining The News, he has reported for The Sacramento Bee, CalMatters and the Oregonian.Daylight Saving Time 2024: When does it start in the Dallas-Fort Worth area?
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