Earlier this week, Denver police vowed to crack down on illegal drugs at rave parties and on Friday, they showed that they meant business. See What Police And Imago Dei Say About The Raves The department cited the promoters of raves at the National Western Stock Show complex, and at two local clubs where officers found illegal drugs. The police also cited a local church for its rave events. The church is called Imago Dei and the city has now declared it a public nuisance and issued a nuisance abatement order, 7NEWS reported. Church leaders said that the police just don't understand it's unconventional outreach methods. But police said that their main concern is the illegal drugs sold to undercover officers at a recent rave at the church. Imago Dei said that the rave parties it held inside its church hall were part of its youth outreach mission. "This is about providing a place where you can enjoy your music and to protect you from anything that is immoral or illegal," said Father Gregory of Imago Dei. But the city declared Imago Dei's raves a public nuisance after undercover police officers bought drugs at a recent rave at the church, 7NEWS reporter Julie Hayden said. Pictures from that rave are posted on a Web site connected to Imago Dei. Police say that rave goers approached undercover officers, and offered to sell them LSD and ecstasy. Denver police officer Mark Roggeman, who is an expert on cults, was at that rave. He said that he didn't see any church outreach, but he did see products being sold in the church that were designed to enhance the effects of illegal drugs. "This isn't just about dancing, it's about the drugs, the ecstasy..." Cult Expert Mark Roggeman said. Roggeman said that he's also concerned about the message on Web sites directly linked to Imago Dei. The sites focus on illegal club drugs and how to use them, 7NEWS reported. "That really concerns me. You think a church would try to keep people away from that and if they are going to have an outreach, to make sure that there's no drugs," Roggeman said. But Father Gregory said that the Web sites and raves are just a way to reach kids on their own level. "I do not want to see anyone break the law but I don't believe we're going to solve the rave problem with law. We're going to solve it with relationships," Fr. Gregory said. Some of the church's neighbors are also upset about the weekend rave parties being held there. Neighbors told 7NEWS that drugs and alcohol are a big problem with kids who go to the raves. They said they've had dealers come to their front doors, and they've found teens having sex in their yards, Hayden reported. "Well, if you're trying to get these kids off the street, why are you charging $30 for a kid to come into your club?" neighbor Jaydenn Gettler said. "One day, they're having drugs, sex, and everything out there. The next day, they're having church. What kind of church is that?" Father Gregory said that the church does not promote drugs, and they do not condemn them either. He said that Imago Dei is trying to reach kids on their own level. But because the church does not want to risk being shut down by the police, church leaders have promised not to hold any more raves, 7NEWS reported. Related Stories:

• March 13, 2001: Nude Man Killed On Highway Was At Rave Party, Friends Say
• February 26, 2001: Drug Arrests Made At Rave
• February 12, 2001: Ecstasy Death Caused By 'Water Intoxication'