At tonight's ANC 2F meeting, 3rd District Lieutenant Vanessa Moore provided some details into the police investigation of Sunday's sex club death at 1618 14th Street NW. The building has long been known for hosting a late-night sex party called "Men's Parties" as well as meetings of the "Jack Off Enthusiasts Club." Last Sunday, a man was reported dead inside the building.
The victim, who was found at the bottom of a stairwell in the building's basement, was discovered in the early morning hours of Oct. 4. Moore described the victim as a 47-year-old white male. Police now think the man suffered from a "possible broken neck" that may have resulted from a fall down the stairs.
"This remains a death report, not a homicide," Moore clarified. But the death has again drawn D.C. police attention to the sex club at 1618 14th Street, which drew city scrutiny in 2005 when a fire broke out at the location. Four years later, Moore says D.C. police are working with the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs to attempt to close the club. "I know he does not have any license at that location," Moore said. "We're looking for ways to shut him down."
Moore said that to her knowledge, the club is "not operating right now," though neighbors present at the meeting challenged that assertion. (Borderstan reported yesterday that the joint appeared open for business). Moore added that the sex club's manager had stated, in his defense, that he "provides a safe place for men to have consensual sex." But it's still unclear as to whether or not unsafe building conditions contributed to the man's death. Moore was not on-scene at the time of the incident, but she had been told the place was outfitted with "sex toys" and that the stairs were "steep."
She also heard tell of snacks. "He said he doesn't collect money," Moore said. "But he said he does collect donations for chips, dips, and soda. And we'll leave it at that."