Police spent tax dollars on lap dances?

Local cops were spending $1,800 per month in taxpayer money buying drinks and lap dances at an Orange County strip club.

Their goal was to shut the place down, but it's still open and their investigation appears to have fallen apart. Meanwhile, an Orlando cop could find himself on the other side of the law for allegedly taking liberties with some of the dancers.

"He would touch in between your legs," said Dancer Celeste Hall.

That "he" was James McGriff, an undercover agent for the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation (MBI), an agency comprised of Orlando and other city police departments and the Orange County Sheriff's Office.

MBI spent five months working undercover in Cleo's and raided the place in November 2004. Some 30 people were arrested and charged with various, drug, alcohol and sex-related offenses. The probe cost about $9,000 and agents were hoping Cleo's would soon be making its last call for alcohol.

After the November raid, Mason began looking into MBI's probe and discovered McGriff had purchased drinks for 19-year-old dancers even though he had a list of the dancers' ages and photographs.

Mason also learned McGriff has allegedly groped some dancers and may have exposed himself. Two dancers made the accusation and took, and passed, a polygraph test to prove they were telling the truth.

"Based on what we have collected, we have no intention of filing for a suspension (of the liquor license)," he stated. Meanwhile, the dancers who have charged McGriff have filed a complaint against him with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Perks of the job? Article here.