COLUMBUS – In the wake of a string of shootings, violent crimes and other illegal activity, the city of Columbus is asking a court to declare a Northeast Side night club a public nuisance and shut it down.
Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein has filed a lawsuit in the Franklin County Municipal Court Environmental Division calling for a preliminary injunction that would require the owners of The Doll House, 1680 Karl Court, to curb illegal activity at the business or be closed, according to a release from Klein’s office Thursday.
Klein is also urging the court to shut down the troubled strip club “until the club’s owners are able to demonstrate they have been able to address safety and security concerns” or face a closure of up to a year.
In a little over two years, The Doll House has become infamous as the scene of several crimes, both inside and outside the club, Klein said.
Police have responded to more than 50 calls since January 2021, including a homicide, a stabbing, and multiple shootings, robberies, assaults and overdoses. The club has also been the scene of emergency calls concerning almost 200 fights, sex crimes and burglaries, according to Klein’s office.
The city in December objected to the renewal of club’s liquor permit and met with property owners to discuss safety and security procedures, including additional security personnel, installation of metal detectors, security cameras and procedures for front door pat-downs and wanding, Klein said.
But, in January, one person was killed and three others were injured in a shooting and an investigation into the incident found that the suspect was able to get into to the club without being searched, the front door metal detector was not in use, an ID scanner purchased for the club was missing and the club only had two of six security personnel on site, Klein said.