"Eagle Eight" Trial Postponed?

By Jim Burress

Atlanta, GA – UPDATE: As of Monday, the case manager for judge Crystal Gaines says the trial is still on for Feb. 4th. Alan Begner, the attorney for the defendants, said he was working to find out why. WABE will continue to follow this story and bring updates as they become available.

Eight employees arrested during a controversial raid on a Midtown gay bar will not go to trial February 4th, as scheduled. WABE's Jim Burress reports.

According to the attorney for the Atlanta Eagle employees, Atlanta Municipal Court Judge Crystal Gains postponed the trial. No new date has been set.

Alan Begner, the men's lawyer, was not given a reason for the postponement. He expects to learn more next week during a conference call.

The Atlanta Police Department came under fire after the September raid for what patrons and employees call police harassment.

A-P-D says officers were acting on a tip of drug activity and lewd conduct at the bar. The only charges resulting from the raid were on code violations.

Patrons involved have filed a separate, federal civil rights lawsuit.

Jim Burress, WABE News.