Night at gallery ends in arrest - St. Petersburg Times

ST. PETERSBURG — The night started with a complaint about a giant penis statue.

Before it was over, police had pinned the owner of the art gallery to the ground and taken him to jail.

"Oh, my God," said gallery owner Bill Schramm, his glasses falling off in the scuffle. "This is the city's response to a penis. That's fabulous."

Officers arrested Schramm and another man after a raid Friday night on the Erotic Lounge in the Grand Central District of St. Petersburg. It wasn't the statue that they were arrested for.

Instead, investigators said they saw a nude man in the gallery, a violation of a city ordinance that prohibits places that serve alcohol from allowing the public display of genitals.

The gallery's show on Friday included a cypress penis statue larger than a person in front of the gallery. Schramm said he installed it there about 5 p.m.

Sometime during the evening, police received a complaint about the statue. A St. Petersburg police officer stopped by, told Schramm it was pornographic and told him to take it inside. He refused, saying it was art.

Later that evening, the show was still going on when police converged on the shop. As Schramm was talking to a St. Petersburg Times reporter about the statue, Sgt. Joe Collins dashed inside. Schramm put his hand up to stop him and tried to hold the door closed, police said.

In an instant, officers tackled Schramm, forcing him to the ground and cuffing his hands behind his back.

Officers sat him on a chair under the gallery's overhang while they searched the shop and detained the customers, telling them there was a liquor violation and asking to see identification.

Schramm, 46, was charged with battery on a law enforcement officer and violating the city ordinance.

Inside, police found a nude man, Joshua M. Culotta, suspended from the ceiling in an aerial harness that Schramm earlier called a "chandelier."

Officers said they arrested Culotta, 26, for violating the city ordinance. The man, who is deaf, seemed confused and told a reporter, "I was just modeling." As officers handcuffed him, he started to cry.

The walls of the gallery were covered in erotic images. One painting depicted Superman in underwear with an erect penis.

Attached to a bathroom door of cloth were signs reading: "Human petting zoo," "Tipping allowed & encouraged," and "Dare to explore." Police said they found a man in his underwear inside the bathroom but nothing illegal.

Collins said the police began an investigation Friday night after hearing that the gallery was displaying genitals while serving alcohol. He would not specify how they knew, saying he wouldn't reveal an investigative tactic.

But because the business has a liquor license, police have a right of entry and don't need probable cause to go inside, Collins said.

"It's art," said Craig Christopher, 42, who said he had barely sipped his beer when police entered. "So what's the problem with that?"

Comments on this article

by Charles	Jul 28, 2008 4:15 PM
One more reason to stay the hell out of Florida, land o the fascist jack-booted thugs crossed with good ol boy southern hospitality. Nasty thugs.

by Shamus	Jul 28, 2008 4:04 PM
For those who didn't know. This area was home to multiple strip clubs in the 70's & 80's It was determined that this "art" would not be allowed in this district. What is the difference?Topless dancers on poles and naked men hanging from ceilings?

by FJD	Jul 28, 2008 4:01 PM
Wow.. St. Pete actually has some culture! What did they expect to find at "Erotic Lounge?" People are gettng their heads blown off only a few blocks away and this was their focus on Fri. night? C'mon St.Pete police. Priorities? Stop wasting my tax $!

by Chuck	Jul 28, 2008 3:41 PM
For all the liberal morons who find the arrest to be objectionable, take your head out of your rectum - a nude man suspended from the ceiling does not constitute art. Anywhere. Ever. Even if you call him a chandelier. Idiots...

by Sam	Jul 28, 2008 3:40 PM
How typical-a gay bar disguised as an "art gallery".Who cares-but glad sidewalk "art"is gone-no place for that where children can see it:uncalled for,PERIOD.

by Frank	Jul 28, 2008 3:31 PM
Police acting in a very Communist way. Why did they not go shred some more tents to top off the evening. Just another wonderful evening in a town led by an idiot named Baker. Maybe we should all go stand nude outside his home in Old Northeast.

by Anti-Heidi	Jul 28, 2008 3:22 PM
Heidi, no where does this article say that "religious right wingers" were involved. If erotica is on display in the Erotic Lounge, so be it; but common decency should keep a penis statue off the sidewalk where anyone, including children, can see it.

by Peter	Jul 28, 2008 3:16 PM
GT - besides being ignorant of other things, the Grand Central District is NO WHERE near downtown - missed by about 20-30 blocks is all..

by charlie	Jul 28, 2008 3:05 PM
"Investigative tactics"? Gay Pride parades? Evil genitalia? My grandad would be spinning in his grave to see what has happened to the city he loved.

by chris	Jul 28, 2008 2:51 PM
People should keep their fascination with penises to themselves.

by Garbanzo	Jul 28, 2008 2:35 PM
Each day I find a reason to be more and more ashamed of being an American. I try to be proud of my country, but it is not easy. Unbelievable!

by Ellen	Jul 28, 2008 2:34 PM
It's really sad that an event at the gallery was broken up by the police. And it's terrible that the owner was tackled like that..surely some discussion was warranted before arrests begin - particularly that poor deaf model - my heart goes out to him

by Sally	Jul 28, 2008 2:33 PM
If they had only called it Woody's...

by me	Jul 28, 2008 2:14 PM
pathetic. but, thats the "law" for you. plus, you americans are retards.

by John	Jul 28, 2008 2:14 PM
LOL the Police are such a Joke in this town. Their afraid to go after the real crime.

by jk	Jul 28, 2008 2:11 PM
DIRTY & NASTY - SHUT THEM DOWN - We know what goes on n there . Nothing to do w/ art what so ever -.. Duh !

by Joe	Jul 28, 2008 12:25 PM
The place looks like a haunted house. Central ave is not the right place for a Penis statue. It's a shame that people like this choose to ruin a nice area of town. I say they close the place down. Why should some of us have to follow the rules.

by Ginnifer	Jul 28, 2008 12:25 PM
This is to funny...i mean really...LMAO! wonder how they feel about college art students who have to draw nude modles? we do that in our dorm, sometimes their is beer....GASP!

by Craig	Jul 28, 2008 12:25 PM
How funny! The cops here in Chicago don't even bother with this type of stuff...they have criminals to catch. What a joke. This is like walking into a strip joint only to find (oh my gosh!) scantily clad women. Get over it!

by ted	Jul 28, 2008 12:24 PM
hey i see naked penis in old bibles, on church walls all the time... my god, my pastor is going to be rounded up. heil hitler.

by KC	Jul 28, 2008 12:24 PM
I want to see them bring the 'art work' into the courthouse for the hearing....hilarious.

by Tito	Jul 28, 2008 11:12 AM
When you people read about a nude Josh Culotta suspended by an aerial harness were you thinking Maude Lebowski, too?

by LDH	Jul 28, 2008 8:45 AM
C'mon people, there was a lot more going on in there than just the display of sexual organs. What do you think was going on in that bathroom? Art? No, illicit and illegal sex. What idiots to advertise with a giant penis!

by Jim	Jul 28, 2008 8:45 AM
This is just a gay hook up bar. Not an art gallery.

by LEE	Jul 28, 2008 8:45 AM
THE PEOPLE WHO NEED THIS "ART" ARE IN NEED OF HELP

by Joel	Jul 28, 2008 8:45 AM
The 1950s are alive and well in St. Petersburg, Florida. What an embarrassment.

by Chris	Jul 28, 2008 8:44 AM
PS, do you really think the reporter would have stuck around if the circle jerks and mass orgies were going on as it is being reported on the radio....she looked positively bored until SPPD delivered a story.

by Chris	Jul 28, 2008 8:44 AM
As one of the people that stopped in to see what it was all about....art or not...I saw nothing too risque...we were all bored until the excitement...thanks for making our evening St Pete! Just don't mess with the dealers or hookers around the block.

by Moe	Jul 28, 2008 8:44 AM
I think I have one in my pants... but I was told not to look at it.

by Pepe	Jul 28, 2008 8:44 AM
Thanks to the police for shutting these idiots down. If you want to hang from the ceiling naked, do it in your house, not in a place where the public can just walk in. And put your phallic god away. As a parent, I don't want any kids seeing it.

by Chad Bryant	Jul 28, 2008 8:44 AM
Since when is seeing a penis illegal? I see my sons penises all the time, have lots of photos of them too. Suspending them from the ceiling...hmmm....

by JasonR	Jul 28, 2008 8:44 AM
Surprised SPPD didn't try to Taser the offending penis first. What "investigative tactic"? How could one miss it?! "Raid"? ROFL

by DeeDee	Jul 27, 2008 8:58 PM
Congrats st Pete, you've run him out of business.The penis statue in question is now being sold on Ebay. Just type in the 'St Petersburg penis". He needs the money for legal fees. Unless there's someone willing to help. Support the 1st Amendment!

by michelle	Jul 27, 2008 8:58 PM
As everyone that has a liquor licence knows, there is no nudity allowed where liquor is being sold. This man is just trying to increase his clientele by breaking the law. The city should revoke his liqour licence. See if he still thinks he's funny.

by James	Jul 27, 2008 8:58 PM
Ted, glad to have you leave (finally) and hoping the rest of your militant "gay" friends join you. Folks, read the article, a liquor ordinance was broken, cops had no problem with the silly "art" display.