February 13, 200521 yr More in here... The St. Paul Winter Carnival turned up the heat on the Vulcans Thursday, suspending them from public appearances and from wearing their costumes and threatening to ban their bawdy behavior. The actions were announced the day that Thomas C. Trudeau, the 2005 Fire King and leader of the Vulcans, was granted a leave of absence after he was charged with criminal sexual conduct; he's accused of molesting three women at a downtown bar last week. "The alleged incident has stained the reputation of one of the strongest and most historic groups of the Winter Carnival and of the St. Paul Winter Carnival itself," said Robert Viking, CEO of the St. Paul Festival and Heritage Foundation. Trudeau, 54, is charged with three counts of fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct, a gross misdemeanor, and is free on $3,000 bail. He is scheduled to appear in Ramsey County District Court on March 15. Bob VikingJim MoneAssociated PressVulcan Krewe members and employees at Alary's said the men, dressed in their hoods, goggles and red running suits, descended on the St. Paul bar on Feb. 1 following a night of drinking and lap dances at a strip club. The Vulcans got three female bartenders to participate in their garter ritual, which involves surrounding a woman and placing a garter on her thigh. But police and the women allege that Trudeau went too far and that he touched them inappropriately, including jabbing his fingers into the women's crotches and touching their breasts, according to the criminal complaint filed Monday. Katie Latimer, Trudeau's attorney, refused to comment on Thursday. A man answering the phone at Trudeau's home said he was not available. Viking said Thursday that the carnival is "a family event" and that the bar incident embarrassed the organization. Speaking at a news conference detailing how the foundation is addressing the allegations, he said the carnival's Protocol and Exchange Committee met Wednesday and approved several recommendations, including granting Trudeau's leave of absence. The committee suspended all seven Vulcans from official appearances and prohibited them from wearing their running suits and paraphernalia pending further review by the committee and the foundation board of directors. Normally, the Vulcans and Winter Carnival royalty serve as ambassadors all year, going to nursing homes, schools and parades. The committee also continued a ban on the garter ritual and on the practice of putting festival pins on people. Viking put that ban in place after St. Paul police began their investigation. Viking said the filing of criminal charges is leading carnival officials to seriously consider eliminating many of the Vulcans' traditions. The group, which rides around town on a fire engine, has a reputation for bawdy behavior involving drinking, pub crawling and visiting strip clubs, as well as the pin and garter rituals. The sad thing about this... is the bar in which this guy groped this bartender is a Chicago Bears bar. My dad always visits this place during the season.
February 13, 200521 yr I thought you were on vacation. Let me know when you're tired of hearing this.
February 13, 200521 yr Author I thought you were on vacation. Let me know when you're tired of hearing this. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> tired... ruined my thread, you whore...
February 13, 200521 yr QUOTE(silver and black @ Feb 13, 2005 -> 01:24 PM) tired... ruined my thread, you whore... Just calm down Minny, the dude's only asking a question.
February 13, 200521 yr Author Just calm down Minny, the dude's only asking a question. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> im not mad...
February 13, 200521 yr QUOTE(silver and black @ Feb 12, 2005 -> 08:26 PM) im not mad... had a feeling you weren't.
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.