AUSTINTOWN — A township bar is on Ohio law enforcement’s radar and now a state investigator has explained some of the reasons why.

The Zodiac Club Lounge, at 169 S. Four Mile Run Road, has drawn the ire of the township police and fire departments, and other violations from a state inspection will be referred to the Ohio Liquor Control Commission.

Eric Wolf, enforcement commander for the Ohio Investigative Unit, said representatives of his office went to the bar Sept. 27 after being informed by Austintown police about violations they observed about a week earlier.

An Austintown police report states that officers responded to a complaint about the parking lot being full well after 4 a.m. Sept. 22. When they arrived, they found the parking lot full and a large crowd outside the bar.

One of the officers, Sgt. Greg Brinsko, was there to conduct a liquor license inspection, and the report states that a fight broke out just as he arrived. Members of the crowd began to flee in every direction upon sight of police vehicles.

The report states that many fled back into the bar and locked the doors behind them so that other patrons and police could not enter the bar, while others inside were unable to exit, which constituted a fire code violation.

Once police were able to enter, they arrested Adrienne D. Washington, 23, of Youngstown. Mahoning County Court records show he is charged with obstructing a liquor inspection, a misdemeanor, as well as two felony counts of drug possession or abuse – one count involving fentanyl and the other involving methamphetamine.

Wolf said that when his unit arrived on Sept. 27, they issued a state citation for hindering an inspection, per Austintown’s report, and found multiple other violations while they were there.

He said Zodiac’s license allows it to only serve beer and wine. Spirits below 21 percent alcohol content that are not wine are prohibited. He said the bar was found to be serving mixed drinks in violation of the permit terms.

Wolf said inspectors also found marijuana in the office, a handgun hidden in a basement trash can, and nonspecific unsanitary conditions, all of which led to a citation for “improper conduct not covered by above.”

Wolf said the state was familiar with the bar even before Austintown police called for support.

“We’ve had complaints there for a number of years,” he said. “And we are working with local police to support them in any way we can, to deal with a number of issues there.’

Wolf said any potential consequences for Zodiac, including license suspension or revocation is determined entirely by the commission on a case-by-case basis.

“They consider the history of the establishment, the severity of the infractions, input from police and our office, and all the evidence provided to them,” Wolf said.

The Ohio Investigative Unit only conducts the inspections and investigations, then prepares a report to submit to the Ohio Liquor Control Commission, through the State Attorney General’s office. The commission holds hearings monthly.

Wolf said the report is not complete and so has not been passed on to the commission yet.

Police reports show officers have responded to the bar on at least a dozen occasions this year alone, making arrests and issuing citations.

The reports detail everything from noise violations, after-hours and underage drinking to guns and suspected drugs in back rooms and patrons accosting officers and interfering with arrests.

The Zodiac has not responded to The Vindicator’s request for an interview.

Wolf said the township also has the authority to deny renewal of the bar’s liquor permit. Trustee Bruce Shepas declined to comment on any specific discussions about the bar’s fate.

“There have been ongoing incidents and complaints, and there are investigations going on, which we cannot comment on,” he said. “Based on what we know, if we have the right not to renew it, we’ll make that decision when the time comes.”

Shepas said the township wants to help all businesses succeed but also places expectations on them to be good members of the community.

“Nobody’s more pro-business than me, but if you’re a problem…” he said. “You have to be in good standing, and we’ll help you get there as much as we possibly can.”