Atl. Mayor Will Investigate Raid Cover-Up

Atlanta mayor Kasim Reed said city police will be thoroughly investigated for possibly covering up information about a raid of the Atlanta Eagle gay bar last year.

Atlanta police department officials and officers allegedly erased text messages, cell phone photos, and e-mails pertaining to the case, Reed said, according to the Journal-Constitution newspaper. A judge ordered that information be retrieved and turned over for a lawsuit involving the raid.

Reed also said he would have an announcement within a week regarding the case that "will be very significant" to gay Atlantans.

Owners and patrons of the Eagle are suing the police department after its Red Dog unit forced customers down to the ground and used antigay slurs while conducting a search.

"We're going to investigate every allegation," Reed told a gathering of gay businesspeople. "If true we're going to deal with the individuals in a public way. It will not be private."