Poplar Lounge Owner Accused of Robbing Bank - WREG

Police, safe streets task force and helicopters surrounded their street. They were kept in their houses then told to evacuate because one of their neighbors was a suspect in a bank robbery.

[wakeup]

"We went to poplar lounge. Those there were surprised by the news of his arrest and say if he did it they can't imagine why. "

Really? The only reason anyone hung out there was in the hopes that Mr. Drew would hook them up with some drugs. Very difficult for normal people to catch a show there without witnessing depravity and drama. What a bunch of losers.

I guess his trust fund was wearing thin, and he needed a fix. That or he needed to get enough money and drugs to continue manipulating his hangers on. Pathetic.
They should close that place down and send all the regulars to rehab.

[Grits]

Danya, you need to proof-read your artciles before you post them. As Far as Mr. Drew goes, let us try and remember that he is assumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a resonable doubt in a court of law. I once knew a man that was accused of doing a terrible crime. People that heard about the story thought that he was guilty. After he was tried in a court of law he was found to be innocent. Unfortunately, small minded people still viewed him with suspicion. It ruined his life and he eventually put a pistol in his mouth. Remember, one day you too could be accused of a crime, hopefully you will be innocent; but if you aren't, I say hang ya. LOL.

[Sam Gould]

Why is it "World famous" ? Did Elvis play there or something?

[Lisabeth]

This man is innocent until proven guilty. Why didn't the poster who allegedly witnessed drug dealing report it to the proper authorities? There is a prevailing tendency (for a nunber of years now) to convict the accused via "media" conveyances.

[frankie]

If guilty, maybe his actions were a cry for help and hopefully Mr. Drew will get the help he needs.

[Poplar Lounge]

Lisabeth wrote:

This man is innocent until proven guilty. Why didn't the poster who allegedly witnessed drug dealing report it to the proper authorities? There is a prevailing tendency (for a nunber of years now) to convict the accused via "media" conveyances.

Mr Drew has been arrested for dealing many years ago and got off on a technicality. MPD was very aware of what went on at the Poplar Lounge as most of Memphis was. Because it was catering to Morgan Keegan types they left it alone.

[Poplar Lounge]

Grits wrote:

Danya, you need to proof-read your artciles before you post them. As Far as Mr. Drew goes, let us try and remember that he is assumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a resonable doubt in a court of law. I once knew a man that was accused of doing a terrible crime. People that heard about the story thought that he was guilty. After he was tried in a court of law he was found to be innocent. Unfortunately, small minded people still viewed him with suspicion. It ruined his life and he eventually put a pistol in his mouth. Remember, one day you too could be accused of a crime, hopefully you will be innocent; but if you aren't, I say hang ya. LOL.

Maybe Danya was just using common sense instead of being politcally correct. He was caught by the transponder in the loot bag being traced to his home. We dont need CSI for this one.

[Tood]

Sam Gould wrote:

Why is it "World famous" ? Did Elvis play there or something?

Actually they left a few words in the name out...it should have been "World-of-the-Weirdos Famous!", especially if it was anything like people who say they have been there describe it! LOLOL

[Tood]

Poplar Lounge wrote:

<quoted text>
Maybe Danya was just using common sense instead of being politcally correct. He was caught by the transponder in the loot bag being traced to his home. We dont need CSI for this one.

You would think that people who rob banks would know to get rid of the damnations transponder by now, but I guess you dont think very clearly when you have to rob a bank in the first place!

[top]

dam, never say what you want do. the economic has hit everybody.

[Shawn]

I have talked to Drew on and off for years,he's been crazy for quite some time now.A guilty plea is in his future,the Poplar Lounge will have a new owner and once again a mentally ill person will be in the pen.He really hasn't been right since he got the bar back from the lesbians he leased it to about 10 years ago,not saying they made him crazy just saying that was when I first started thinking he was nuts.

[Smokey]

Maybe the "middle aged cracker wraper" will take over the Poplar Lounge. I think they were contemporaries.

[DRB]

Lisabeth wrote:

This man is innocent until proven guilty. Why didn't the poster who allegedly witnessed drug dealing report it to the proper authorities? There is a prevailing tendency (for a nunber of years now) to convict the accused via "media" conveyances.

Like that would do any good. We live in Memphis, not Mayberry. There is not enough time or space for me to go into all of the times I have witnessed Memphis's finest have either drop the ball or totally ignore tips, insider information, and reported crimes. I varies by division and by precincts, but basically the MPD has a few fine and dedicated officers surrounded by a sea of ineptitude, indifference, and corruption.
Following a transponder, or having the fleeing felon crash into your squad car is about the only way bank robbers will be caught in Memphis.

As far as tracking drug distribution. That seems to be limited to focusing on drugs being transported down I-40 without paying the proper tariff.

And yes, I too witnessed drugs exchanged at Poplar lounge, and yes, I mentioned it to Police. But that was years ago.

[BMO]

That is too bad that it screwed Shaky Feet's show Friday night. I get there and the doors were locked and lots of fans in the parking lot. I have been waiting to see Shaky Feet for a while. What an unfortunate situation!

[Shaky Feet Fan]

I drove in from out of town as well to see Shaky Feet and yes it was a rather unfortunate situation!

[B Diddy]

Don't judge people you don't even know. Regardless of what some think about Mr. Gregg Drew or what he's accused of doing, I know him to be a kind-hearted man who has helped a good number of less fortunate people. I really don't think the whole story has been told. Gregg is a wild, crazy and out-going guy, but I can't see him endangering his life and others. I always believed he was an intelligent and eccentric guy. I also pray for him and all those troubled by these events.I'm in shock! Crazy.

[STARCHILD]

IT WAS THOSE FREAKS FROM THE HELL ON EARTH HOLLOWEEN PARTY WHAT DID HIM IN.

[Charley Burch]

wakeup wrote:

"We went to poplar lounge. Those there were surprised by the news of his arrest and say if he did it they can't imagine why. "
Really? The only reason anyone hung out there was in the hopes that Mr. Drew would hook them up with some drugs. Very difficult for normal people to catch a show there without witnessing depravity and drama. What a bunch of losers.
I guess his trust fund was wearing thin, and he needed a fix. That or he needed to get enough money and drugs to continue manipulating his hangers on. Pathetic.
They should close that place down and send all the regulars to rehab.

Why don't you list your name the same way that I am right now if you were not going there to score on your own?! I guess you are just one of the other speculators and not friends of a man who never did harm to anyone. He is obviously in a bad place right now and needs guidance and love instead of judgment and disappointment.

[Chuck]

I went to high school with Gregg, graduating a year behind him. He was always a super nice guy to the junior classman and a gentleman. I just cannot believe this is the same person.

Gregg, you and your family are in our prayers.

[Poplar Lounge]

Charley Burch wrote:

<quoted text>
Why don't you list your name the same way that I am right now if you were not going there to score on your own?! I guess you are just one of the other speculators and not friends of a man who never did harm to anyone. He is obviously in a bad place right now and needs guidance and love instead of judgment and disappointment.

Maybe we dont use our name because we do know him.. far too well. Yes Greg is a fun, friendly, intelligent guy. This does not undo the fact that he made his living by dealing drugs. See Charley nice guys dont deal drugs. They have a tendency to ruin peoples lives. I saw it first hand at the lounge. Many of those losers were normal people before they found they had easy access to drugs from Greg and it took them down. Just like they finally took Greg down too. Judgement Yes! but compassion too. You obviously dont't know him.