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‘Recipe for Disaster': Miami Beach Nightclub Loses License Over Horse Incident

"Very disturbing, very troubling video. This was a recipe for disaster," police said

What to Know

  • An investigation is underway after video surfaced on social media of a woman on top of a bucking horse inside a Miami Beach nightclub.
  • The incident happened at Mokai Lounge on South Beach.
  • It's unclear at this time how or why the horse was in the nightclub.

The Mokai Lounge nightclub in Miami Beach has lost its business license after a video surfaced on social media of a woman on top of a bucking horse inside its premises.

Miami Beach City Manager Jimmy Morales determined that the incident was an "actual threat to the public health, welfare and safety" of the city and amounted to cruelty to animals.

“I was disgusted and offended that any legitimate businessperson would think this was an appropriate action to take,” Morales said in a statement.

In the video, a woman can be seen trying to stay on top of a horse as a large crowd surrounds the animal.

“Animal cruelty is an abhorrent and vile act,” Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber said. “I fully support the immediate actions taken by the City Manager and his staff to ensure that this is remedied quickly.”

It’s unclear why or how the horse made it into the nightclub, but Miami Beach Police say they are now looking into the incident.

Miami Beach responded to the incident on Twitter, saying: “Last night, MBPD was made aware of this incident at Mokai. We are very concerned over the allegations. As such, we have launched a joint investigation with @MiamiBeachNews Code Enforcement.”

Miami Beach Police Department spokesman Ernesto Rodriguez said it has been gathering evidence and talking to eyewitnesses who may have been inside the nightclub.

"We do need additional video and we do need some more testimony from those inside," Rodriguez said. “Very disturbing, very troubling video. This was a recipe for disaster inside of that nightclub as seen on that video.”

Police later said the horse was located and deemed healthy and safe.

“Very packed nightclub. That horse could have easily been more spooked than what it already was and could have charged at the guests inside of there," he said.

Rodriguez said the entire city is working on the case.

"From the police perspective to see if there’s any applicable animal cruelty type charges from a city perspective not only code enforcement but our city manager as well looking into revoking licenses or whatever is appropriate to ensure that behavior like this does not happen anymore," he said.

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