Drink

A cocktail is shown in this 2012 Oregonian/OregonLive file photo.

(Jamie Francis/The Oregonian)

A state investigator is looking into reports of drugs getting slipped into customers' drinks at a North Portland bar, according to an Oregon Liquor Control Commission spokeswoman.

Killingsworth Dynasty has received two recent reports of someone spiking drinks, a bar manager told The Oregonian/OregonLive on Friday.

The bar contacted the liquor control commission shortly after receiving the first report in late January, said Kaetlin Kennedy, one of two managers at the bar.

Kennedy said the bar has since upgraded a security camera system and taken other steps to improve safety. She said Killingsworth Dynasty workers weren't involved in the alleged druggings.

The bar's No. 1 priority is safety, she said, and it's committed to listening to its patrons. None of those who told the bar that they were drugged report being assaulted, she said.

The bar learned of one of the allegations Jan. 23, Kennedy said. In that case, a third party messaged the bar on Facebook to say a woman and two men believed they were drugged two days earlier, she said.

Dear friends, family and concerned patrons, We would like to address your concerns regarding recent drugging incidents... Posted by Killingsworth Dynasty on Wednesday, February 8, 2017

Staff spoke with the three people, and two maintained they thought they had been drugged, Kennedy said. She didn't know whether any filed police reports and said they didn't discuss how specifically they thought they had been drugged.

Another patron contacted the bar Wednesday to say she thought she had her drink spiked in November, Kennedy said. The woman had a drink, set it down, didn't feel well and left the bar shortly after, Kennedy said.

The woman didn't indicate she would file a police report, Kennedy said. It appeared she came forward out of concern of a pattern of possible druggings at Killingsworth Dynasty, Kennedy said.

Sgt. Pete Simpson, a Portland police spokesman, said police haven't taken any recent reports about spiked drinks at the bar's Killingsworth Street address.

A 2015 report referencing a drugging and sexual assault remains open, he said, but it's unlikely police will ever be able to figure out if the alleged victim was drugged, Simpson said in an email. A witness reported the woman's injuries could have been from her falling on a sidewalk, he said.

Fliers posted around the neighborhood claim, in part, that the bar isn't a safe place. The fliers "strongly advise" people, especially women, to avoid the bar.

Kennedy declined to comment on the fliers, which are only signed by "victims & concerned neighbors."

Kennedy said the bar's security staff is certified by the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training and that the bar is hiring additional security guards.

It's also holding a safety meeting Saturday with promoters that host events there, has a training with the liquor control commission next week and is looking into more staff training.

Kennedy said the neighborhood bar, which has been open almost two years, has vegan drinks and food. It has a lot of regulars, she said, and a capacity of about 100.

She said the bar hosts weekend dance parties and that about half of its programming caters to the LGBT community.

-- Jim Ryan

jryan@oregonian.com

503-221-8005; @Jimryan015