Police charge staffer at Virginia Beach club with extortion

Police have charged a member of the security staff at a night club where another security guard was shot earlier this week with extortion, abduction and impersonating a police officer.
Early Monday, a security staffer at Club Mystique, in the 1500 block of General Booth Boulevard, was shot after an argument broke out. The victim, whose identity was not released, is in critical condition. A 21-year-old man has been charged in the shooting.

On Wednesday, police said another member of the security staff at the club had been charged in an extortion scheme.

According to police, a man said he visited the club with friends on June 23 and was approached by two men working security.

Police say the customer told authorities the two men had badges, guns and radios and identified themselves as off-duty police officers.

The customer said the two men detained him, searched him and threatened him with arrest unless he paid them money, according to police. His iPod, cell phone and digital camera were missing after the search, he told police.

Police have charged Antonio Leon Smith, 32, of the 600 block of Homestead Avenue in Hampton, with extortion, two counts of abduction, use of a firearm in commission of a felony and impersonating a law enforcement officer.

Police say they are still trying to determine whether anyone else was involved.