TOLEDO, Ohio — The Ohio Liquor Control Commission held several hearings from Monday to Friday regarding liquor permit holders in the state, including in Put-In-Bay and Toledo, that were cited with violations related to the state's health order to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
In addition, on Saturday, the Ohio State Highway Patrol says citations were issued to 10 more bars or restaurants after "receiving complaints of blatant violations of health orders" on the nights of August 20 and 21.
One of those, Double D's Roadhouse, was cited for "violations of improper conduct - disorderly activities."
According to OSHP, large groups of patrons were seen standing around the establishment and bar area on Thursday and a majority of them were not wearing masks.
That case will go before the Ohio Liquor Control Commission for a hearing at a future date.
Earlier in the week, he commission heard a total of 13 cases, issued suspensions to 11 businesses and cited all of them.
One bar had a prior pending violating, which the commission also heard.
RELATED: Gov. DeWine releases state order on COVID-19 and the return to sports | Read the entire order here
The following are the details of the charges for each case, per the liquor commission:
• POUR IT ON INC. (DBA: JAKES SALOON & SPORTS PUB) - Toledo, Ohio
Violations: No. 1: On or about Thursday, May 21, 2020, you, your agent(s), and/or employee(s) allowed beer and/or intoxicating liquor that was sold for on-premise consumption to be removed from the permit premises in violation of Ohio Revised Code Section 4301.21(D) (“removal of alcohol from permit premise”).
No. 2: On or about Thursday, May 21, 2020, you, your agent(s), and/or employee(s) knowingly and/or willfully sold beer, wine, mixed beverages or spirituous liquor, to wit: White Claw Black Cherry Spiked Sparkling Water separately and without an accompanying food order from the liquor permit premises in violation of Emergency Order 4301:1-1-13(C) of the Ohio Admin. Code in effect on the date of the violation.
No. 3: On or about Thursday, May 21, 2020, you, your agent(s), and/or employee(s) knowingly and/or willfully failed to ensure that all patrons and staff maintain a distance of six feet or greater when possible for the health and safety of all individuals engaged in the transaction in violation of Emergency Order 4301:1-1-13(E) of the Ohio Admin. Code in effect on the date of the violation.
No. 4: On or about Thursday, May 21, 2020, you, your agent(s), and/or employee(s) knowingly and/or willfully allowed and/or engaged in improper conduct, to wit: DISORDERLY ACTIVITIES as defined in Rule 4301:1-1-52(A)(2) and as further set forth in Section 2917.11(A)(5) of the Revised Code, in and upon the permit premises in violation of Ohio Admin. Code 4301:1-1-52 (B)(1) (“allowing persons to engage in disorderly activities”).
Outcome: At the hearing, the permit holder entered a denial as to all the violations. Based on the evidence presented, the Commission found the permit holder in violation as to 1, 3, and 4, but not in violation as to 2. The Commission issued a 7-day suspension beginning at noon, September 18, 2020.
• RIVERFRONT LLC (DBA: THE BAIT HOUSE) - Port Clinton, Ohio
Violation: No. 1: On or about Friday, July 3, 2020, you, your agent(s), and/or employee(s) knowingly and/or willfully allowed and/or engaged in improper conduct, to wit: DISORDERLY ACTIVITIES, in and upon the permit premises in violation of Ohio Admin. Code 4301:1-1-52 (B)(1) (“allowing persons to engage in disorderly activities”).
Outcome: At the hearing, the permit holder entered a denial as to the sole violation, but stipulated to the facts. Based on the evidence presented, the Commission found the permit holder in violation as to 1. The Commission issued a 7-day suspension beginning at noon, September 18, 2020, but gave the permit holder the option to pay a financial forfeiture in the amount of $1,400 in lieu of serving the suspension.
• NIESE HOLDINGS LTD. - Put-In-Bay, Ohio
Violations: No. 1: On or about Friday, July 3, 2020, you, your agent(s), and/or employee(s) assaulted, incited others to assault, hindered and/or obstructed an agent or employee of the Division of Liquor Control, an enforcement agent of the Department of Public Safety and/or an officer of the law from making an inspection and/or search of your permit premises while in the lawful performance of his duty in violation of Ohio Revised Code Section 4301.66 (“hindering inspection/search”).
No. 2: On or about Friday, July 3, 2020, you, your agent(s), and/or employee(s), knowingly and/or willfully allowed and/or engaged in improper conduct, to wit: recklessly caused inconvenience, annoyance, or alarm to another by creating a condition that presents a risk of illness, by an act or acts that served no lawful and reasonable purpose of the permit holder in and upon the permit premises in violation of Ohio Admin. Code 4301:1-1-52 (B)(1) (“allowing persons to engage in disorderly activities”).
Outcome: At the hearing, the permit holder entered a denial as to the violations. Based on the evidence presented, the Commission found the permit holder in violation as to 2, but not in violation as to 1. The Commission issued a 20-day suspension beginning at noon, September 18, 2020.
• HOTEL ON THE PARK INC. (DBA: PARK HOTEL GIFT SHOP) - Put-In-Bay, Ohio
Violation: No. 1: On or about Saturday, June 27, 2020, you, your agent(s), and/or employee(s) knowingly and/or willfully allowed and/or engaged in improper conduct, to wit: recklessly caused inconvenience, annoyance, or alarm to another by creating a condition that presents a risk of illness, by an act or acts that served no lawful and reasonable purpose of the permit holder in and upon the permit premises in violation of Ohio Admin. Code 4301:1-1-52 (B)(1) (“allowing persons to engage in disorderly activities”).
Outcome: At the hearing, the permit holder entered a denial as to the sole violation. Based on the evidence presented, the Commission found the permit holder in violation, but issued no penalty.
• BLUM BAY LLC (DBA: ADVENTURE BAY) - Put-In-Bay, Ohio
Violation: No. 1: On or about Saturday, June 27, 2020, you, your agent(s), and/or employee(s) knowingly and/or willfully allowed and/or engaged in improper conduct, to wit: recklessly caused 6 inconvenience, annoyance, or alarm to another by creating a condition that presents a risk of illness, by an or acts that served no lawful and reasonable purpose of the permit holder in and upon the permit premises in violation of Ohio Admin. Code 4301:1-1-52 (B)(1) (“allowing persons to engage in disorderly activities”).
Outcome: At the hearing, the permit holder entered a denial as to the sole violation. Based on the evidence presented, the Commission found the permit holder in violation as to the violation. The Commission issued a 5-day suspension beginning at noon, September 18, 2020, but gave the permit holder the option to pay a financial forfeiture in the amount of $750.00 in lieu of serving the suspension.
• CHARLES P HOPKINS (DBA: HOME TAVERN) - Logan, Ohio
Violations: No. 1: On or about Saturday, May 2, 2020, you, your agent(s), and/or employee(s) knowingly and/or willfully sold beer, wine, mixed beverages or spirituous liquor for on-premises consumption in violation of Emergency Order 4301:1-1-13(A) of the Ohio Admin. Code in effect on the date of the violation.
No. 2: On or about Saturday, May 2, 2020, you, your agent(s), and/or employee(s) knowingly and/or willfully allowed and/or engaged in improper conduct, to wit: DISORDERLY ACTIVITIES as defined in Rule 4301:1-1-52(A)(2) and as further set forth in Section 2917.11(A)(5) of the Revised Code, in and upon the permit premises in violation of Ohio Admin. Code 4301:1-1-52 (B)(1) (“allowing persons to engage in disorderly activities”).
Outcome: At the hearing, the permit holder entered a denial as to violation 1, but stipulated to the facts; violation 2 was then dismissed upon motion of the Ohio Attorney General. Based on the evidence presented, the Commission found the permit holder in violation as to 1. The Commission issued a 15-day suspension beginning at noon, September 18, 2020.
• ABECA DEVELOPMENT LLC (DBA: CHAPZ BAR AND GRILL) - Belmont, Ohio
Violations: No. 1: On or about Saturday, May 9, 2020, you, your agent(s), and/or employees knowingly and/or willfully sold beer, wine, mixed beverages or spirituous liquor for on-premises consumption in violation of Emergency Order 4301:1-1-13(A) of the Ohio Admin. Code in effect on the date of the violation.
No. 2: On or about Saturday, May 9, 2020, you, your agent(s), and/or employee(s) knowingly and/or willfully allowed and/or engaged in improper conduct, to wit: DISORDERLY ACTIVITIES as defined in Rule 4301:1-1-52(A)(2) and as further set forth in Section 2917.11(A)(5) of the Revised Code, in and upon the permit premises in violation of Ohio Admin. Code 4301:1-1-52 (B)(1) (“allowing persons to engage in disorderly activities”).
Outcome: At the hearing, the permit holder entered a denial as to violation 1, but stipulated to the facts; violation 2 was then dismissed upon motion of the Ohio Attorney General. Based on the evidence presented, the Commission found the permit holder in violation as to 1. The Commission issued a 10-day suspension beginning at noon, September 18, 2020.
• COVE INC. (DBA: YANKEES TAVERN) - Geneva on the Lake, Ohio
Violations: No. 1: On or about Friday, June 19, 2020, you, your agent(s), and/or employee(s) knowingly and/or willfully allowed and/or engaged in improper conduct, to wit: DISORDERLY ACTIVITIES as defined in Rule 4301:1-1-52(A)(2) and as further set forth in Section 2917.11(A)(5) of the Revised Code, in and upon the permit premises in violation of Ohio Admin. Code 4301:1-1-52 (B)(1) (“allowing persons to engage in disorderly activities”).
No. 2: On or about Friday, June 19, 2020, you and/or your agent(s) and/or employee(s) and/or your unidentified agent(s) and/or employee(s) did operate in and upon the permit premises more than two fixed counters, commonly known as bars, in rooms and/or places on the permit premises, where beer, mixed beverages, wine, and/or spirituous liquor, to wit, Yankee's Tavern and the Goblin Wine & Ale House, is sold to the public for consumption on the premises, in violation of Section 4303.30 of the Ohio Revised Code.
No. 3: On or about Friday, June 19, 2020, you, your agent(s), and/or employee(s) while a permit for off-premises consumption was in effect knowingly and/or willfully failed to ensure that all patrons and staff maintain a distance of six feet or greater when possible for the health and safety of all individuals engaged in the transaction in violation of Emergency Order 4301:1-1-13(E) of the Ohio Admin. Code in effect on the date of the violation.
Outcome: At the hearing, the permit holder entered a denial as to all the violations. Based on the evidence presented, the Commission found the permit holder in violation as to 1, but not in violation as to 2 and 3. The Commission issued a 30-day suspension beginning at noon, September 18, 2020.
• EAST END CLEVELAND LLC - Cleveland, Ohio
Violations: No. 1: On or about Saturday, December 7, 2019, your permit premises were not in a sanitary condition, to wit: THE FIXTURES, EQUIPMENT, TABLES, COUNTERS, COOLERS/ REFRIGERATORS, AND/OR UTENSILS WERE NOT CLEAN OR SANITARY, in violation of Ohio Admin. Code 4301:1-1-17(E) (“unsanitary conditions”).
No. 2: On or about Saturday, December 7, 2019, you, your agent(s), and/or employee(s) assaulted, incited others to assault, hindered and/or obstructed an agent or employee of the Division of Liquor Control, an enforcement agent of the Department of Public Safety and/or an officer of the law from making an inspection and/or search of your permit premises while in the lawful performance of his duty in violation of Ohio Revised Code Section 4301.66 (“hindering inspection/search”).
No. 3: On or about Saturday, December 7, 2019, you, your agent(s), and/or employee(s) failed to display your permit in a conspicuous place on the licensed premises and produce same upon request in violation of Ohio Admin. Code 4301:1-1-21 (“permit not posted”).
Outcome: At the hearing, the permit holder entered a denial as to violation 2, but stipulated to the facts; violations 1 and 3 were then dismissed upon motion of the Ohio Attorney General. Based on the evidence presented, the Commission found the permit holder in violation as to 2. The Commission issued a 4-day suspension beginning at noon, September 18, 2020, but gave the permit holder the option to pay a financial forfeiture in the amount of $800.00 in lieu of serving the suspension. 4
• EAST END CLEVELAND LLC - Cleveland, Ohio
Violation: No. 1: On or about Friday, July 3, 2020, you, your agent(s), and/or employee(s) knowingly and/or willfully allowed and/or engaged in improper conduct, to wit: DISORDERLY ACTIVITIES as defined in Rule 4301:1-1-52(A)(2) and as further set forth in Section 2917.11(A)(5) of the Revised Code, in and upon the permit premises in violation of Ohio Admin. Code 4301:1-1-52 (B)(1) (“allowing persons to engage in disorderly activities”).
Outcome: At the hearing, the permit holder entered a denial as to the sole violation, but stipulated to the facts. Based on the evidence presented, the Commission found the permit holder in violation as to 1. The Commission issued a 20-day suspension beginning at noon, September 22, 2020.
• SCALE ENTERTAINMENT LLC (DBA: VIVID RESTAURANT) - Maple Heights, Ohio
Violations: No. 1: On or about Saturday, June 13, 2020, you, your agent(s), and/or employee(s) allowed beer and/or intoxicating liquor that was sold for on-premise consumption to be removed from the permit premises in violation of Ohio Revised Code Section 4301.21(D) (“removal of alcohol from permit premise”).
No. 2: On or about Saturday, June 13, 2020, you, your agent(s), and/or employee(s) knowingly and/or willfully allowed and/or engaged in improper conduct, to wit: DISORDERLY ACTIVITIES as defined in Rule 4301:1-1-52(A)(2) and as further set forth in Section 2917.11(A)(5) of the Revised Code, in and upon the permit premises in violation of Ohio Admin. Code 4301:1-1-52 (B)(1) (“allowing persons to engage in disorderly activities”).
Outcome: At the hearing, the permit holder entered an admission as to violation 2; violation 1 was then dismissed upon motion of the Ohio Attorney General. Based on the evidence presented, the Commission found the permit holder in violation as to 2. The Commission issued a 15- day suspension beginning at noon, September 18, 2020, but gave the permit holder the option to pay a financial forfeiture in the amount of $3,000.00 in lieu of serving the suspension.
• MEDUSA RESTAURANT & LOUNGE LLC CLEVELAND, OH Violations: No. 1: On or about Saturday, July 4, 2020, you, your agent(s), and/or employee(s) knowingly and/or willfully allowed and/or engaged in improper conduct, to wit: DISORDERLY ACTIVITIES as defined in Rule 4301:1-1-52(A)(2) and as further set forth in Section 2917.11(A)(5) of the Revised Code, in and upon the permit premises in violation of Ohio Admin. Code 4301:1-1-52 (B)(1) (“allowing persons to engage in disorderly activities”). No. 2: On or about Saturday, July 4, 2020, you, your agent(s), and/or employee(s) while a permit for off-premises consumption was in effect knowingly and/or willfully failed to ensure that all patrons and staff maintain a distance of six feet or greater when possible for the health and safety of all individuals engaged in the transaction in violation of Emergency Order 4301:1-1-13(E) of the Ohio Admin. Code in effect on the date of the violation. Outcome: At the hearing, the permit holder entered a denial as to violation 1, but stipulated to the facts; violation 2 was then dismissed upon motion of the Ohio Attorney General. Based on the evidence presented, the Commission found the permit holder in violation as to 1. The Commission issued a 45-day suspension beginning at noon, September 18, 2020.
• I LOVE THIS BAR LLC COLUMBUS, OH Violation: No. 1: On or about Saturday, May 16, 2020, you, your agent(s), and/or employee(s) knowingly and/or willfully allowed and/or engaged in improper conduct, to wit: recklessly caused inconvenience, annoyance, or alarm to another by creating a condition that presents a risk of illness, by an act or acts that served no lawful and reasonable purpose of the permit holder in and upon the permit premises in violation of Ohio Admin. Code 4301:1-1-52 (B)(1) (“allowing persons to engage in disorderly activities”). Outcome: At the hearing, the permit holder entered a denial as to the sole violation. Based on the evidence presented, the Commission found the permit holder in violation as to the violation. The Commission issued a 15-day suspension beginning at noon, September 18, 2020.