City takes legal action against Columbus bar with history of shootings, drugs and theft

The City of Columbus is pushing back with legal action against a Hilltop bar that’s been the site of multiple crimes in the last year.

Yesterday, Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein announced that the City had filed a preliminary injunction against the owners of Spotlight II Lounge, a Hilltop bar that’s been the scene of shootings, car thefts and more.

The injunction ordered the bar to close Aug. 19-21 and Aug. 26-28. It also imposed several other restrictions, including ordering the bar to close by 1 a.m. and maintain licensed security guards during all operating hours. Additionally, owners must take “reasonable measures” to deter loitering on the premises, including signing a criminal trespass form allowing police to remove anyone on the property after 2 a.m.

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“The long history of violence and criminal activity at this bar presents a substantial safety risk to patrons, employees and area residents, and it’s imperative that the City step in to hold property owners accountable and protect public safety,” Klein said in a press release. “We want to work with property owners to end the violence, but if that proves too much for them to address, we will not hesitate to take further action, including shutting the bar down for good.”

According to court records, police have been dispatched at least 50 times to Spotlight II Lounge since July of 2021. The bar has been the sites overdoses vehicle and property theft and multiple shootings, including a homicide on Jul 31, 2021.

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