WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — A popular Warner Robins lounge was the topic of discussion for city leaders Monday night. The nightclub, Cru, sparked community and law enforcement concern after trends of violent acts around the business.
At the meeting, the mother of a victim shot on March 15 at the club spoke out.
"It was her choice, true, for her to attend the club, but it wasn't her choice to get shot twice," shared the mother Patricia Walker.
The decision one woman made to shoot three people outside of the lounge that night, left city leaders consoling Walker during council.
That one incident, on top of many more, led to Desmond Cobb's fight for his business at city hall.
"For me to be ... these charges... and consider me as a public nuisance.. no. This is disrespectful. There's no way I can be accountable for all of these charges or incidents," Cobbs told the council.
That's 148 incidents stemming from the business. Those range from DUI's, aggravated assault and more over a two year span. Police Chief Wayne Fisher said that compared to other clubs in the area, that is way above the average.
"They told me to beef up security, I did that. I went from three to five sometimes six or seven depending on the night," Cobbs said to leaders.
When asked about the unlicensed security police said he had at Cru, Cobb responded that he did not directly hire any officers. He said he hired a security company that supplies officers. He said he wasn't in charge of personally making sure they were licensed.
"Whatever he did, I have nothing to do with it," Cobb's said about an un-licensed security guard arrested for working at his club.
Cobb's even shared he partnered with law enforcement and felt in the last six months things were improving.
"I signed something with Captain Edwards, so that they have permission to come and arrest guys if they just roll up, arrest guys, do whatever they had to do," he said.
After hearing from Fisher and Cobbs, the council had a decision to make.
Now, people won't have a choice to drink at Cru Lounge, since the city revoked their liquor license. The business also sells food and hookah so this would not stop those sales.
The decision was unanimous as council members said it is what's best for the overall good.
"This is just too many instances and we have to do what's right for the whole city," Councilman Derek Mack shared.
Many council members echoed similar statements, including Mayor LaRhonda Patrick.
"While we would love to see your business thrive, because it is owned by you, we have the duty to protect our citizens at all times," she said.
At the start of Cobbs statements, he asked the council to cancel or reschedule the hearing. He claimed the city didn't follow their code. He said he wasn't given proper notice and said the city did not mail the notice to his business address.
City attorney Julia Mize told the council that he was given three days, which falls in line with code. However, she didn't mail the notice to his business, stating it was a tight turnaround, and that their business operates on the weekend. She went on to say that the point of the notice is to inform Cobbs that he had the right to appear. She says that the notice proved to be effective, given Cobbs showed up to the hearing.
The council decided to move forward with the motion. The vote was unanimous.