Sexually Oriented Business: RAIDED by HPD

HOUSTON -- Houston Police raided an adult bookstore, arresting four people including a high school science teacher. 

Vice officers converged on the “24 Hour News and Video Emporium” near I-10 West and the Beltway Tuesday night.   

The city of Houston had been trying to locate the owner, Steve Collins, for several weeks to serve him with civil papers.

Vice officers arrested him Tuesday night for allegedly  violating sexually oriented business laws. 

The city is filing three civil lawsuits, hoping to close the Westside store and two other “24 Hour News & Video Emporiums” at I-10 and Studemont and on Clay road. 

“It’s basically an adult bookstore, in our estimation, with an associated arcade in the back and neither of those businesses has a permit issued under the city’s SOB ordinance," said Don Cheatham with the City Attorney’s Office.

The Nimitz High School science teacher who was arrested has been identified as Paul Comet. He is charged with indecent exposure. Comet has taught at Aldine ISD for two years. The district issued this statement Wednesday: "Aldine ISD will conduct an internal investigation and is notifying the State Board of Educator Certification of the teacher's arrest."

Paul Mendoza and Edvin Quiej were also arrested for public lewdness in the raid.

The bookstore remained open Wednesday, but the arcade and theatre were closed. Vice officers say those are areas where sex often occurs.  

The adult bookstore directly backs up to residential neighborhoods and is down the street from a swim club and Rummel Creek Elementary. Residents have been working hard with the city to try and close down the store.

“We've also heard there have been things found in the parking lot and playground that look like they may have come from a sexually oriented business," said Susanne Nelson, a parent and attorney.

Neighbors believe the bookstore has also been a magnet for crime. Nelson believes there has been a "huge increase in violent crime, home invasions, cars being broken into near the school.”