Ibiza authorities investigate go-go dancers impersonating police at Pacha reopening party

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  • On May 4th, two men in local police uniforms entered the club and ordered the music be turned off, before starting to dance.
  • Ibiza authorities investigate go-go dancers impersonating police at Pacha reopening party image
  • The Ibiza public prosecutor's office is investigating a May 4th incident that took place at Pacha's reopening party involving two go-go dancers dressed as policemen. According to El Mundo, two men in local police uniforms—complete with badges and handcuffs—led a group of VIPs from the neighbouring Pacha Hotel to the super club and stopped traffic along the way. They then entered the recently refurbished club, jumped onstage and ordered the music be turned off. At that point, the 5,000-strong crowd started whistling, while the two men waved them out of the venue. Moments later, the music returned and the impersonators began dancing. Two legitimate police officers witnessed the incident and reported it immediately to the local council, who passed it on to the prosecutor's office. According to article 402 of the penal code, it is against the law to impersonate a public official and can carry a prison sentence of between one and three years. "What happened that night concerns us," reads a statement from local citizens group EPIC. "Usually when someone is dressed up, you notice straight away, but in this case that didn't happen, so everyone at the party initially believed that the two young men who turned out to be go-go dancers were really policemen." The statement continues: "It's particularly serious given that members of the local council were present and did nothing to stop it from happening. This wasn't just a crime; it was a shameful joke at the expense of the police, whom we should respect." EPIC has called for Pacha to apologise. A statement from Pacha Group, the company behind the iconic club, said the uniforms weren't official and had been made by the club's costume department. They also said the uniforms had been used at previous events, including at a recent party in Mallorca. Pacha Group assured that the uniforms didn't include any official badges or other paraphernalia, although shots from the night suggest otherwise. (See right.) Impersonating the police wasn't the only crime committed at Pacha on May 4th. For the reopening event, which featured an all-night set from Hot Since 82, the club had been granted a special extended license until 6:30 AM. However, local police penalised the club after the party closed 30 minutes later than permitted. Watch a clip of the impersonators in action, via Diario De Ibiza. Photo credit: Pacha Ibiza
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