AKRON, Ohio -- Akron City Council voted Monday to ask the state to deny the liquor permit renewal application of a bar that has a history of violence including the July 14 shooting death of Jamie Rogers.

The legislation, proposed by Councilwoman Tara Samples, objects to the Northside Tavern’s application to renew its liquor permits, which are pending with Ohio’s Division of Liquor Control.

The bar at 956 North Howard Street in North Hill, which operated as Van’s Lounge until March 2018, has had a history of violence and public disturbances, Chief City Prosecutor Gertrude Wilms said during Monday’s Public Safety Committee meeting.

Since the new ownership took over, there have been fights, assaults, a shooting, weapons complaints, a domestic fight involving an employee and an after-hours complaint during which bar management refused to let police come in, which is required by law, Wilms said. On July 9, someone assaulted a bar employee, police reported.

Five days later, Rogers, 43, was at the bar celebrating a friend’s 50th birthday when he walked outside and was shot multiple times. The two shooters ran away and Rogers died at the scene.

Akron police have not identified any suspects, Lt. Rick Edwards said.

Freddie Adams III, 24, told cleveland.com that he shares the same father as Rogers. Adams was raised in California and never got to meet his older brother, but had plans to travel cross-country and meet him face-to-face.

“I’ve lost my brother that I planned on meeting soon over an altercation that probably could have been avoided if there wasn’t any intoxication involved,” Adams said. “There’s an on-going problem here, so no, they shouldn’t be able to get their liquor permit back especially if it could save a life or lives.”

Samples said the city tried to work with the former and current management of the Howard Street bar so they would abide by the laws.

“With this last incident, it just seemed like, how many more chances and opportunities should they get, now that we have a body?” Samples said Monday. “My understanding is there was a lot of confusion on the day that this young man was killed up there, where they weren’t being forthcoming with the detectives who were on scene. So to me, this is a no-brainer.”

Lawrence Hopkins, who owns the Northside Tavern, disagreed with council’s assertion that the bar is a violent place. He said he was not aware of the July 9 assault involving an employee.

“The bar had absolutely nothing to do with the murder of that young man,” Hopkins said, contending that Rogers left the tavern and was shot down the block by two men who were never in the establishment. “I cannot control what goes on outside the bar.”

Hopkins said the bar enforces an age-minimum of 27 years old for women and 35 years old for men, and all patrons have to pass by a bouncer who checks them for weapons. The Facebook page of the tavern purports it to be “drama” free.

“Most of the people that come here are pretty peaceful,” Hopkins said.

Council said in the legislation sent to the director of Liquor Control that the “applicant has operated liquor permit businesses in a manner that demonstrates a disregard for the laws, regulations or local ordinances of this state or any other state.”

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