Long trip home for 74-year-old after arrest

A 74-year-old man, one of five who was arrested in Palatka yesterday, has been released from jail after posting a $504.00 appearance bond; but, for Emanuel G. Koutelas, Jr., the ride back to his Ponce Harbor Drive home in St Augustine was surely a long one.

Palatka’s “Adult Super Center” located in the shopping center at 3724 Reid St, has been the target of close scrutiny by Putnam County Sheriff Jeff Hardy; yesterday’s bust makes the third since last summer.

“This is the third undercover operation conducted at this business since July 24, 2012 — each time deputies have observed individuals openly engaged in lewd behavior in violation of Florida Statutes,” Hardy told reporters. “We will continue our efforts until such time as they come into compliance with the law.”

The business, which has operated in Palatka for over a decade, offers DVD and videotape adult movies for sale and rental and has an area known as an “arcade” which contains private booths and a theatre where adult entertainment is shown.

In a raid in July of last year, five people, including the clerk on duty, were arrested. A raid in October nabbed the clerk and one patron in the store. Yesterday’s incident involved the arrest of four men and the female store clerk and involved men performing lewd acts upon themselves while watching movies.

Historic City News was unable to obtain a comment from Koutelas; who, with the exception of four civil traffic citations, has no local arrest history — he is now facing a first-degree misdemeanor criminal charge. Michael Carey, the store’s owner told Sheriff Hardy that he intends to close the theater to prevent something like this from happening in the future.

Also arrested were 88-year-old Donald Harry Beavers, 59-year-old Migueal Flores Ramirez, 80-year-old Edwin T. Lynch, and 44-year-old Alva Yusem, who was charged with owning, maintaining or operating a place for the purpose of lewdness.