Local News in Brief : Police Arrest 2 Men at Adult Bookstore

Police arrested two more customers on suspicion of lewd conduct at Glendale’s only sex-oriented bookstore this week, bringing the total arrests to 13 since it opened in May, 1986.

A 32-year-old Monrovia man and a 44-year-old Los Angeles man were arrested Monday afternoon at Unique News & Video on San Fernando Road for soliciting or engaging in lewd conduct in a public place, police said.

In November, Daniel Bishop, president of the store, and manager Gary Enea were found guilty of violating city zoning laws by installing about 20 token-operated video booths without a permit.

Glendale Senior Assistant Atty. Scott H. Howard introduced evidence during the trial that sexual liaisons between men had taken place in booths with holes cut between the walls.

Glendale Municipal Judge Cheryl Krott fined the two $850 each, placed Bishop and Enea on two years’ unsupervised probation and ordered the booths shut down by Dec. 29 until the city reviewed a zoning change requested by the operators.

However, on Dec. 28, the appellate department of Los Angeles Superior Court granted a request for a stay pending further court action.

A decision by the city on whether the video booths must be removed is expected next month, after city officials decide whether to grant the zoning change for the booths.