In early 2013 the City of Lorain experienced an increased amount of violent crimes to include gang violence, shootings, felonious

assaults, robbery, and murder. Recognizing violent gang and gun violence destroys community cohesiveness and the quality of life; therefore, the Lorain Police Department pursued new policing strategies to combat these problems. Using Intelligence Led Policing and Evidence Based Analysis, the Lorain Police Department examined what was contributing to the violence in an effort to restore safety. While conducting an analysis of violent crime in the city, several businesses established themselves as public nuisances. These businesses not only had a history of criminal activity, there was also evidence they had contributed to these activities. Gils International Lounge located at 1840 E. 28th Street, Lorain Ohio, has had a long history with the Lorain Police Department. For years there has been a standing order that all police units, to include units from other districts, would have to come over to E. 28th Street to monitor the bar closing. Failure to do so would result in assaults, nuisance behavior, and create a safety concern for the citizens of Lorain. Over the course of seven months the Lorain Police Department responded to felonious assaults, weapons violations, gang activity, and liquor violations which occurred even with the increased patrol. Criminal activity had become the norm for Gils International Lounge over the years and no measures had been successful in minimizing the problem. As of August 1, 2013 the Lorain Police Department has responded to fifty-nine (59) calls for service at Gils International Lounge. While some of these calls were a proactive approached by the police, had the police not engaged in proactive policing, several incidents which occurred in the bar would have gone unreported. While responding to calls for service at Gils International Lounge, the Lorain Police Department had filed several police reports on the criminal activity observed there. Not only did this criminal activity affect the patrons of the bar, it also endangered the citizens located in the surrounding neighborhoods. 1/05/13 Responded to the bar for two highly intoxicated females fighting. (13-598) 1/12/13 Officer observed a highly intoxicated male staggering in the street yelling profanities and challenging people in front of the bar to fight. (13-1576) 1/13/13 Officer conducted a traffic stop on a highly intoxicated underage male who stated he had a couple of shots at Gils. (13-1734) 1/26/13 Officer observed a female in alley behind Gils who smelled of marijuana. She was arrested for possession (13-3518) 2/04/13 Fired employee destroyed bottles of alcohol (13-4746)

2/10/13 Officers dispatched to Elyria Memorial Hospital for people who had been assaulted at Gils. One victim was assaulted by numerous people on the dance floor, another had been stabbed breaking up the fight. Victims reported arguing with Gils staff , however, the police were never called. Gils was unable to produce video surveillance of the incident when requested by the police. 2/23/13 Officers responded to a fight inside the bar. The victim said a huge fight broke out in the bar and he was hit in the head with a bottle. 4/15/13 Officers conducted a walk through due to reports of exotic dancers in the bar performing nude. Upon arrival people began yelling the police had arrived, and scantily clad women began running to the back room. One female was observed to have no clothing covering her breasts. Dancers said they were from Cleveland and dance for tips. The back door (emergency exit) to the bar had been locked to prevent the police from entering. (13-14493). 5/04/13 Officers on patrol observed a female bleeding in the alley behind Gils. She stated she was jumped by several females inside the bar. Security said they broke up the fight and kicked them out. The police were never called. (13-18323) 5/05/13 Officers responded to a residence where a male said a fight broke out at Gils at closing time. He was standing at the edge of the fight and got punched. Police were never notified of the fight. (13-18530) 6/15/13 Officers noticed a disturbance outside a Gils. A female patron said she had been stabbed. In speaking with security, a large fight broke out with combatants breaking beer bottles and waving them at security to keep security at bay as well as throwing them across the bar. Several people were injured during this melee; the police never received a call of the fight. (1325353) 6/24/13 An officer noted an intoxicated male standing outside of the bar at 0306 hrs. and in speaking with him he stated he was waiting for his ride. The male said he had been drinking at Gils and enjoying the strippers. Officers noted a lot of vehicles were still parked in the area. Bar door was locked and the officer noted an overwhelming odor of marijuana at the entrance of the bar. Noises could be heard in the bar like people yelling about money exchanges and dice. A male wearing a security shirt opened the door and upon seeing the police, he tried to shut the door on them. The male then ran thru the bar whistling to alert patrons to the arrival of the police. Numerous people were in the bar to include known gang members. Officers noted there were drinks on the tables, but the staff immediately began clearing them upon the arrival of the police. The bar manager Mark Parker plead guilty to obstructing the police from entering the building (13-26942)

6/30/13 Officers overheard a female patron exiting Gils that there was a fight inside the bar. Officers enter and observe two females fighting. The police were never notified of the fight. (1328040). 7/10/13 Officers were called to the bar for a group of seven people who came in and were assaulting everyone. There also had been a gun fired in the parking lot. Officers recovered a .22 caliber bullet. This incident is believed to be gang related. (13-30036) The Cotton Club is another bar located on E. 28th Street (1766 E. 28th St.). During the first four months of operation, there have been several legal violations at the establishment to include weapons, liquor, health and safety violations as well as felonious assaults and gang activity. The Cotton Club opened its doors in October 2012 after renovating the former Flamingo Nite Club. It was awarded a liquor permit on October 1, 2012 and began operating officially as a liquor establishment on October 5, 2012. The Cotton Club presented itself as an afterhours establishment which would remain open after the normal closing hour for liquor establishments serving food and juice. Like its predecessor the Flamingo Nite Club, the Cotton Club drew the crowds from several bars within walking distance after those establishments had closed at 2:30AM. Customers wanting to continue a night of socializing could remain at the Cotton Club until 4:30 AM. Prior to its official opening the Cotton Club had already required police assistance. On October 4, 2012 police were dispatched to the club after receiving a 911 call regarding a disturbance. Upon arrival numerous people were seen exiting the bar. Once inside the officers noted they observed two individuals who had visible marks on their faces indicating there had been a physical altercation. No one had a complaint about the altercation including the owner Anthony Barnhill. There have also been reports that the Cotton Club is serving alcohol after hours, which explains the large crowds. This was also the case when the Flamingo Nite Club was operating an after hours club. While owner Anthony Barnhill publicly denies serving alcohol after 2:30 AM, the surveillance video of the club obtained by the police clearly shows bottles of beer and alcohol being served. The bartender is observed pouring bottled beer into plastic cups and selling bottles of champagne well after 2:30 AM. In the Chronicle Telegram Newspaper, a reader made a comment about hearing of the after hour liquor sales at the club from countless people. Barnhill also contacted the Chronicle Telegram Newspaper defending his establishment after the murder of Herman Seagers which had occurred at Liberty Gas Station. The Cotton Club is not the problem in Lorain. Its some of the people he said You can control them when theyre in your establishment, but when they go outside, you cant search their cars. Barnhill also said his club does not serve alcohol after 2:30 AM; however, thirteen days after the newspaper article was published, The Cotton Club was inspected by the Ohio Investigative Unit and again cited for after hours delivery of intoxicating liquor.
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The club has also shown a blatant disregard for Ohio law by continuing to allow smoking inside the establishment. In two separate incidents the Lorain Police Department have observed people smoking in the bar and brought it to the attention of the security personnel. Nothing has been done to correct the problem, and the surveillance tape continues to show patrons openly smoking inside the building. The Cotton Club has become a known hangout for gang members from both sides of town leading to violence in the bar. Anthony Barnhill has told a Lorain Police gang detective he could not make a living operating the bar as he had originally planned. Thus, he was forced to change the music selection resulting in a different customer base. These known gang members who patronize the bar are responsible for the acts of violence which have been occurring in the City of Lorain. Since opening there have been several calls for service at the club: 11/04/12 Male threatening to shoot the place up after being denied admission by Cotton Club security (12-50470) 11/11/12 Female patrons try to start a fight and are removed. Several hours later the group who was removed returns and started a fight in the parking lot next to the building. The police were never called, and the combatants contacted the police the following day. (12-51650) 11/18/12 Officers were dispatched to the Cotton Club for reports of a female being punched in the face with a gun. Officers were unable to locate the complainant. Security was advised regarding the amount of people who were smoking inside the establishment. (12-52705) 11/24/12 Officers dispatched to the Cotton Club for a 911 call requesting police. They were unable to locate the complainant. Once again they advised security of the smoking ban violations. (12-53577) 12/09/12 Officers were dispatched to the bar for reports of several shots fired inside of the bar. An unwanted patron who had been denied admission earlier in the evening returned and fired several shots. One patron was shot in the leg. Barnhill never provided the security footage from the shooting despite the detectives making numerous requests. Even though they have a suspect, the case still remains open (12-55771). 12/16/12 Officer responds to a 911 hang up reporting possible shots fired in the area. 12/29/12 Intoxicated underage male was denied admission into the bar. The male was involved in an altercation with the security staff. Police were never called; however, a Lorain Auxiliary Police Officer observed the altercation and called it in. (12-58505) 1/01/13 Officers responded to a report of seven unwanted males at the Cotton Club and two of them had guns. Nineteen minutes later they responded back to the bar for several shots fired.
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There was a shoot out in the parking lot of the Cotton Club which eventually led to the homicide of Herman Seagar at Liberty Gas USA. (13-000058) Video surveillance of the Cotton Club was provided by Anthony Barnhill the night of the homicide. The surveillance shows the club does provide security at the door. The male patrons are being patted down, and the female patrons are checked with a hand held metal detector. The video also shows minimal customers prior to 2:30 AM, and after the competing bars closed, Cotton Club attracts a large crowd. Due to the large volume of customers, all entering the bars within a half hour, it creates a hardship for the security personnel who are inadequately staffed and are rushing to allow customers admittance. 1/01/13 Ohio Investigative Unit issued a citation based on the security footage from the bar shooting (13-003284) 1/27/13 During a bar inspection Ohio Investigative Unit locates a male in the kitchen with marijuana. Male was turned over to Lorain Police. Bar was also cited again for after hours delivery of intoxicating liquor. (13-003652) 2/16/13 Male observed urinating in the front of the bar. (13-006482) 3/10/13 Officers responded to reports of shots fired at the bar. No one was located outside the bar, security stated nothing happened inside the bar and everything happened outside of the bar. One shell casing was found. Security footage was not provided. (13-09517) 5/26/13 Numerous people outside the bar yelling and cursing. Gang member yelling fuck the police, he was arrested also had weed on him. (13-22024) 7/06/13 Door person working at the bar as assaulted by patrons. Security broke up the fight and told people to go home. The police were never called and victim had to go to the hospital. People also claimed they were assaulted by security with a club. (13-29287) 7/07/13 Twenty plus people hanging in the parking lot and a group was shooting dice. Officers could also smell the odor of burnt marijuana. (13-29450) 7/17/13 Owner Barnhill acknowledges people are hanging out in his parking lot drinking and that gang members have threatened to shoot up the club due to him increasing prices. The recipe of intoxicated patrons, gang members, food, and late hours are all contributing to the violence surrounding the Cotton Club. Barnhill has communicated that food helps sober up customers coming from other bars before they drive home; however, that could not be farther from the truth. By serving alcohol after hours and ignoring Ohio laws, the Cotton Club continues to contribute to the violence in the City of Lorain. Liberty Gas USA located at 2436 Broadway Avenue, Lorain Ohio, has also established itself as a public nuisance by continuously furnishing alcohol to underage patrons. Since September 2012,
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the Lorain Police Department has conducted liquor compliance checks throughout the city in conjunction with the Ohio Investigative Unit and the Lorain County STOP (Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking) Task Force. Due to the amount of manpower and finances needed to conduct these types of checks, only three have been completed. Liberty Gas USA was one of the businesses which an underage confidential informant was sent in by the Lorain Police Department to purchase alcohol. On all three different occasions, the informant was able to purchase alcohol from the store clerk. 2/01/13 Store clerk sold alcohol to an underage confidential informant. (13-4443) 4/26/13 Store clerk sold alcohol to an underage confidential informant (13-17077) 9/21/12 Store clerk sold alcohol to an underage confidential informant (12-43516) The Ohio Investigative Unit has conducted free classes on alcohol violations and underage delivery prevention in Lorain County. The Lorain Police Department has distributed the flyers to Liberty Gas informing them of the classes encouraging them to attend. Despite the available assistance, Liberty Gas USA continues to furnish alcohol to underage patrons. Gils International Bar, The Cotton Club, and Liberty Gas USA, in some form have contributed to the increase in violent criminal activity in the City of Lorain. The lack of accountability by these businesses and blatant disregard for Ohio Laws jeopardizes their patrons as well as the citizens. In an effort to disguise the activities of their bars, both Gils International Bar and The Cotton Club routinely neglect to contact the police regarding the criminal activity occurring at their establishments, and these activities come to light only after citizens have been seriously hurt and seek medical assistance. The combination of these repeated violations, criminal activity, and disregard for citizen safety has resulted in the Lorain Police Department objecting to the renewal of their liquor permits.