DPD Arrests 19-Year-Old Girl Blamed for Drug Overdose While City Goes After Dance Club

By Robert Wilonsky Tue., Oct. 4 2011 at 2:14 PM

Categories: Crime

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Matthew Allen

On August 13, a 19-year-old from Grandview named Matthew Allen came to Dallas to go dancing at the Northwest Highway club, off Spangler, called Afterlife. He left there with friends~~in an ambulance~~, and was pronounced dead shortly thereafter -- the result, said police, of an ecstasy overdose.

Moments ago, the Dallas Police Department announced that it had arrested the woman they say provided Allen the drugs: Skyler Brandt, who is also 19. She is now in DPD custody on first-degree felony charges.

But that is not all: The Dallas City Attorney's Office has filed an administrative action to revoke Afterlife's dance-hall license. Melissa Miles, the city attorney who handles such things, is due to give a press conference shortly; we're tracking down the legal docs as well. But, says the DPD heads-up: Afterlife's done for, as far as police and city officials are concerned, because the after-hours , 17-and-up club is where they believe Allen "purchased and ingested the fatal drugs." DPD says it's basing that allegation "on evidence gathered during the investigation indicating that the club's management knowingly allowed drug use and sales on the premises."

Update at 4:12 p.m.: On the other side is the letter DPD Chief David Brown sent to Afterlife owner Mark Annis, in which the chief says that because "you or an employee have knowingly allowed the possession, use, or sale of controlled substances on the premises," the club's dance-hall permit "is hereby revoked." Afterlife Rev Ltr

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a) Most kids have no clue about/what they are doing with these drugs and don't bother to research (or ask anyone who is actually experienced) and they are becoming more and more irresponsible and less safe and covert about doing so b) Because of A, most kids don't know what they're really buying and are easily taken advantage of by those trying to make more money (overcharge/substitute ingredients/etc), thus quality GREATLY suffers c) Poppers are mostly a hipster thing now, I think.
In theory, that would be great. Then those of us who actually ENJOY ELECTRONIC MUSIC and dancing could stop being harassed and infiltrated by all the etards and people who think the ONLY purpose for dance clubs are drugs.
That was blatant sarcasm, stupid.
I was there as well... he took way more than what they're claiming
I agree, this place needs to go. What do you do with the 17 year olds after the club closes? Isn't curfew on the streets midnight?
I didn't go to EDC, but I did go to Identity Road to Ultra. Why? Because Rusko was going to be there, it was my first massive event, and because I'd never seen any big name DJs/Producers in person. Wish I hadn't missed DJ Shadow though, apparently his set was amazing, since he stepped into this giant Ball and went through the story of his history in the music production industry.
BOTTOM LINE: I use to be an avid club goer to Afterlife. And I know FOR A FACT that Mark, amongst ALL of the other staff that they, in fact, knew that there were drugs being done and sold there. Some of them even sold drugs there themselves. Shoot, some of them even let certain people sell drugs there as long as they got a cut. And flush all of the drugs when people were caught like they were suppose to? HA! I've seen them flush half then either keep or sell the rest to make a profit for themselves. I've seen all this with my own eyes, plus SO much more. Mark and that staff are responsible for keeping everybody there safe, its called LIABILITY on private property. I couldn't be happier that this 19 year old girl got arrested for another KID overdosing at the club. I hope they throw the book at her! That place needs to be shut down PERMANENTLY. It is a breeding ground for drugs and the staff has always known that. There will never be another club like Afterlife, and for that I am thankful. Even if closing it saves just one life, then it's all worth it. I just think it's sad that this is what it took for authorities to really start opening their eyes and moving forward...
This is not her fault he was a grown person he made his own choice y dont yall got get the person whos hiding that slipt him g. And on top of that wat do they have that proves her to be responisble everyone there was technicly not in a sane state of mind so they cant take ne ones word for ne thing get over it ppl matt was a good guy and her friend as far as I can tell and how do u think he would feel with yall blaming her for his actions
Ahhhh, the memories..... Outside Confetti at about 10 minutes after midnight on the night that X went on the controlled list and watching my buddy arm wrestle a very beefy, former La Bare dancer in spandex, zebra print pants over whether we were going to buy X for 13 or 15 dollars each. My buddy won, but who cares-the X is long gone, no lasting effects or felony convictions to show for it and who else can say they've seen a grown man who actually expected to be taken seriously while wearing spandex, zebra print pants. Some of us lived through those days, some went to the joint and some died. Not much has changed.
anyone that was friends with matt would know that he wouldnt have overdosed from tabs. skye is not the one who should be blamed for this.
Wait - is that a photo of Matthew Allen or Skyler The Girl? Seriously. There's cleavage.
You're showing your age Stig.....and mine. The first time I ever did x (it was legal) was also my first time at the Starck. Had one of the best times of my life that night. Btw, did I read this kid dropped 6 hits at once? Jesus. I remember a friend doing 2 at once back in the day, and he needed some alone time for a while till he came down and could actually interact with other humans again.
get your facts straight... I was there that night, no one left in an ambulance... that kid left with his friend and died almost 2 hours later... There was a hour and a half window of time that passed before he made it to the hospital which is 5 min away... The kid is known as 6 Shot at the club because he takes 6 of everything... Next time you want to tell a story get your facts straight...
I'm sure we danced on the stairs together.
Mandi, let me introduce you to a concept known as "liability". This took place on private property. The owners of that property are responsible for the things that happen there. Legally, they are liable for the use of their property, no matter what the activity is. If someone dies there, or commits an offense that later causes death, they are liable. It is the owners' responsibility to ensure that their property remains safe. They have provided a forum for the activity to take place, and they are liable for any consequences. They can "try to keep them out" all they want: it's pretty clear that they failed to do so. The person who sold the drugs is liable in the death of the young man in question as well. The young man in question, had he lived, would be liable, since he was over the age of 18. His parents were no longer responsible for his behavior. Granted, they might bear some blame for allowing him to come to this point in his early years, but that's not legally actionable.
What is it with kids today. They can't use drugs in moderation or is it a question of quality control. Maybe they need a designated baby sitter to keep them from taking too much or walking off onto a busy freeway. So Allen buys 12 pills from Brandy and takes 6 of them at once or over a 3-4 hour period. Maybe he was heading for the afterlife. In the mid 80's I did my share of ecstasy (X) at the Starck Club and at various dance clubs in Austin while in college. This was in the days when X was somewhat legal. The manufactures of X kept changing the formula of the drug a little to stay legal. Eventually they outlawed the whole class of drugs. The night before the final law took effect, people were giving X away at the Starck Club like it was candy. After the law took effect the prices went up and I had to use discretion when in inquiring about it, but it was still available.The only issue I had with X was the next day. It felt like I had undergone a partial lobotomy. It was like a really bad hangover without the headache. Luckily the effects were temporary:0I'm glad poppers, amyl or isobutyl nitrate, went out of vogue. Just a slight whiff of that stuff made me nauseous and gave me a headache.
They just reopen elsewhere under a different name under new management.
Oy, that place was built to appeal to people on drugs. To think otherwise is ignorant. They may shake a few people down a night but in the long run they know they are making their money off people on drugs. People walk around looking half dead, getting light shows/massages while obviously high. If they really wanted to keep drugs out they would not allow things of this nature to happen. I don't blame the club or it's owners for this kids death. I agree that it was his choices that lead to this, but don't lie to yourself about things.
You people are idiots. The management has NOTHING to do with your kids taking drugs. I have seen the staff doing everything they can to kick out anyone with drugs. constantly searching people and flushing their drugs and kicking them out, banning them for life. Your children are the idiots taking the drugs and bringing them to these clubs and trying to sell them and/or taking too many along with other drugs. YOUR KIDS ARE THE ONES MAKING THE CHOICE TO TAKE THESE DRUGS AND RISKING THEIR LIVES! Stop trying to find someone else to blame. The Owner and staff have nothing to do with your kids drugs, they try to keep them out. Its time to realize, your kids or not perfect.
This place is terrible. Im an old school raver that knows this club very well. This place was opened as a place for ravers to go when places like the lizard lounge closed their doors. Almost everyone in there is either tripping, rolling or both. Managmemt knows exactly what's going on there and hardly enforce a "drug free environment." I don't even know how many times this place has been raided or shut down but maybe this will actually be the last. As for the kid that died; that sucks, but it's not the girls fault. She shouldn't be put up on charges for him pushing the limits. He knew what he was doing was dangerous and made the choice to take the drugs himself.
I used to go to Afterlife every weekend, I grew up and went to better clubs but it was always my first clubbing experience and something about the industrial, unkept and almost unsafe aspects kept my desire for raunchy experience fed. When I wanted to rebel, what better way than to pop a small pill and stay up until 5 am, only to wake up shortly after and keep it going? It's good to have been, and still be, young... I digress; absolutely I agree that this club was a haven or the marginalized, anyone could be everyone and you never knew what really happened come morning. The drug abuse from some of these kids was bound to happen, and it usually started off with alcohol or weed (how many people did you meet saying "this is my first time on drugs" at afterlife vs "this is my first time rolling/at a club and I love it"), and although I agree that darkside and afterlife probably proliferated these drugs, I don't think it had much a significant impact, as it appeals to some kids and simply not to other...as drugs do and always have done. Nationally, the drug problem is unshaken, and Skyler, a girl whom I've met and loved my time with, may face the consequences of growing up and wanting to rebel indefinitely. I'm sorry to Matthew's family, and I wish he had been more responsible that night, but it wasn't her fault or intention...
You can't stop the distribution of a in-controlled substance especially one with wide use. If kids want to be dumb and kill them selves with over dose go ahead. It's called natural selection and a part of life
This is poor reasoning.. just because a drug is shown in a clinical cell culture study to foster "hope" in the treatment of a particular disease, DOES NOT mean that the drug is safe for regular or occasional consumption. ALSO, the effective dose for cancer treatment is likely far lower than that of the recreational dose, which has been correlated to brain damage and cell death.. yeh, lets just eat that shit like peanut butter, sounds terrifically healthy!! or, i can just leave all of that to you.... Natural Selection i recon.. Stop spreading false information, madame. its offensive, and youre dumbing down the Scientific Process!
Yeah. There was no way that it was only x.. he was acting out from the moment he arrived
Ugh... matt did not leave in an ambulance. His 'friends' took him to the hospital and took four hours to get there. Mark and so many others try their best to catch dealers and kick them out. It was matts own fault... as well as the friends that refused to get the ambulance.
sorry about his passing, my heart goes out to all Mathew's family and friends.
Matt toke other drugs as well. I was there that night.
the purpose of legalization is take drugs out of the hands of random 20-year old club girls and put them in the hands of licensed individuals who can, if nothing more, insure people are buying the drugs they think they are buying along with the proper information about their use. Ecstasy over dose deaths almost always involve one of these four issues 1) it was not just ecstasy 2) it was not at all ecstasy 3) victim didn't drink sufficient water 4) victim took a ludicrous amount of ecstasy The first two issues could be eliminated and the last two addressed like cigarette warnings. I believe this is Chad's point, Heather. He is however wrong about legalization eliminating dance clubs. There is a good chance it would reduce the number of seedy clubs.
http://sflchronicle.com/news/health/2011/08/ecstacy-100-proven-to-kill-cancer-cells/ Oh idk....cause it KILLS CANCER maybe?
Hey Juan, You "hear" that the thousands of people at the Electric Daisy and Purple Parties just go for the great music. Makes me question have you every been to either event? If so why was your reason for going? If not, then how do you have any idea what they are about?
Why is this confusing? If they are able to prove she provided him with the drugs, she is legally responsible for his overdose and subsequent death.
dude are you brain dead?? Legalize XTC? pfff for what purpose
If they'd just legalize it then there wouldn't be any dance clubs.
DPD is so efficient. They just arrested a 19 year old girl. I just feel safer. I hear the thousands of people at the Purple Party and Electric Daisy just go for the great music.
Since when is selling drugs a crime?
Yes -- Skyler is a girl. What's confusing: Skyler sold Matthew the drugs at Afterlife, where he consumed them and then overdosed, according to the DPD.
Matthew (guy) died and Skyler was the girl who gave him the drugs.
Lay off the drugs, Jon..
Skyler is a girl? This story is so confusing.