The City of Columbus has temporarily shut down the MIA Hookah Café in Weinland Park after the site was linked to multiple violent crimes, including a triple homicide. City Attorney Zach Klein announced via a WBNS report that a restraining order was obtained last Friday after evidence surfaced tying the business to the spate of crimes.
Court documents suggest the establishment was no stranger to law enforcement, with police responding to 19 calls for service. Based on a statement obtained by WOSU, incident types included "shots fired, assaults, fights and reports of stolen vehicles." One such call on May 18 concluded with three people dead outside the bar. A subsequent inspection also yielded multiple violations for the illegal possession of liquor and unsanitary conditions.
In their crackdown on local hubs of criminal activity, city authorities are now setting their sights on another establishment. Del Baggio Pizzeria, across the street, has been marked for increased illegal incidents. Court documents made available by an NBC4i article detail over a dozen calls to police for issues like assaults, a shooting, and an incident involving an armed individual.
Assistant City Attorney Christopher Clark indicated in a statement obtained by WBNS that Del Baggio Pizzeria is being pursued on the grounds of being a public nuisance, with a preliminary injunction hearing set to occur in the coming weeks. Columbus officials, aiming to bolster local safety, are determined as Clark stated, to hold these owners accountable for the "crime and chaos that has happened under their watch." Details on the involved police calls and the upcoming legal actions against Del Baggio Pizzeria can be found in WBNS's report.
While MIA Hookah Café now remains closed and boarded, the community of Weinland Park awaits the results of the city's legal actions, hoping for a reprieve from the violent crimes that have plagued their streets. City Attorney Klein asserted his promise of public safety, stating through NBC4i, "the moment we had the evidence to tie this business to the crime and violence in that area, we took action." His office, alongside the Columbus Division of Police, continues challenging entities they deem detrimental to the neighborhood's well-being.
