Augusta bar faces possible probation over crime problems

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - The Augusta Commission is considering steps that could hurt a nightclub that’s been the site of shootings and other crimes.

Meeting in committee form on Tuesday, commission looked at probation, suspension, or revocation of the alcohol license, dance license, and business license for the Level 9 Sports Bar & Grill at 3054 Damascus Road.

ALSO AT THE MEETING

• A motion for an audit of city departments failed to move forward. Commissioner Catherine Smith McKnight sought the audit after leaders found out in the past month that the city owes the IRS at least $2 million over Affordable Care Act violations.

The owner, Voncellies Allen, of Level 9 appeared before commissioners around 1:30 p.m. Tuesday to make his case for keeping the business open.

Allen says since January, he has increased security and has ordered metal detectors for the doors, and hasn’t had an incident since. He says he still needs to install the detectors.

Allen has owned the club since 2013.

“I’ve been open for over nine years, and I’m one of the few people that own my building and my land. This is very important to me. I’m always there. I’m an owner that’s there. I’m not at home waiting on a phone call. I’m there. So I know firsthand what goes on in there” he said.

After hearing from him, commissioners decided to consider at the next commission meeting a six-month probation for the club.

The license revocation is before the commission at the request of the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, which described the problem in a letter to the Augusta-Richmond County Planning and Development Department.

Full Letter:

The letter notes that on Jan. 24, a fight resulted in two people being stabbed at the bar, and on Sept. 28, 2021, a shooting in the parking lot killed one person and injured two.

In addition, there have been five simple battery cases, other battery cases, a kidnapping and sodomy case, and a cocaine trafficking case since 2020.

The club “does have security and an off-duty officer but has not detoured these types of incidents from occurring inside the bar,” the letter states.

“It’s a problem with guns in the area and people not being afraid to shoot,” said Allen.

Most recently, three people were injured in a shooting inside the club on March 21. The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office said the three people weren’t in an altercation but were “victims of a shooter firing his weapon indiscriminately.”

Jose Ortiz is an investigator with the Richmond county sheriff’s Office. He said, “The last shooting, it was learned that somebody let the subject in from a door that nobody was watching. He has put somebody on that door, to watch that door, and any door, to prevent people from coming in with guns.”

Ortiz says since 2020, Level 9 has had 20 cases on file.

Commissioner Bobby Williams said: “Hopefully, he’ll have more eyes on the people that come in. We’re hoping that in the future, we won’t have these types of incidents.”

If they have another incident in the next six months, they could have their business license suspended or revoked.

Mayor Garnett Johnson said: “I always like to respect the rights of small business owners, however, in this case, I think we took just action.”

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