17 are arrested during raid on club

1/31/2005

Two brothers were arrested with 15 other people during a raid on what authorities called an illegal liquor establishment in the 500 block of North Detroit early Saturday.

Jason T. Phillips, 30, of 1842 Fernwood Ave., and James Phillips, 37, of 1526 Norwood Ave., were arrested at 508 North Detroit Ave., a club formerly known as the Chocolate City, said Earl Mack of the Ohio Investigative Unit of the Ohio Department of Public Safety.

Mr. Mack, the agent in charge of enforcement operations for northwest Ohio, said the Phillips brothers and others were serving beer and liquor in the establishment without a liquor license when agents raided the establishment about 2:30 a.m. Saturday. Both were charged with illegal sale of liquor and keeping a place where liquor is sold in violation of law.

Jason Phillips, who had four outstanding warrants, was also charged with felony drug abuse, Mr. Mack said. He also said James Phillips had numerous outstanding warrants, including burglary and assault.

Others arrested for liquor violations were Cynthia M. Williams, 41, of 318 South Miller St.; Rachel Richardson, 32, of 1402 Foster Ave.; Richard Carter, 40, of 936 Pinewood Ave.; and Jason D. Draper, 27, of 1638 Freeman St.

Mr. Mack said a total of 17 people were arrested at the bar. He said numerous patrons were arrested for outstanding warrants.

He said $1,962 was confiscated in the raid, along with beer and other alcohol. Mr. Mack said Toledo police and Ohio Highway Patrol officers took part in the raid as well.

Mr. Mack said he believed the bar had been open for business since mid-November, judging from the complaints his agency had received. He said undercover agents began visiting the establishment in mid-December.

The address has a history of problems. A man was seriously wounded out front during a shooting on Jan. 16, 2004. Another shooting took place in 1998. There have also been numerous liquor violations.