Atlanta Gay Bar Raided

In a developing story, a source reports that bar staff and dancers were arrested after police raided a gay bar in Atlanta.

The Atlanta Eagle was raided by police late Thursday night and staff members and dancers were arrested in an incident that witnesses characterize as “harassment.”

According to a witness's account published on the Atlanta Progressive News website, about 10 police cars and 15 police officers raided the gay bar around 11:30 p.m., allegedly searching for drugs. Several staff members and male dancers were arrested for reasons that remain unclear in the developing story. One source told APN that unlicensed dancers prompted the arrests.

Police, some of whom were initially in the bar undercover, reportedly asked each patron individually to show identification before they were allowed to leave the bar. Some patrons complained about “aggressive treatment,” according to the APN.

“The police were said to have ordered all patrons to get on the ground -- including patrons who were just dancing or standing at the bar -- and numerous patrons said people were handcuffed indiscriminately," reported the APN. "Bar patrons were furious at the aggressive and indiscriminate treatment and called the incident ‘harassment.’”