Saturday, February 25, 2017
Staff report
YOUNGSTOWN
City Police Chief Robin Lees said vice squad officers Thursday raided a South Side bar after receiving several complaints from neighborhood residents.
Officers carried out hundreds bottles of liquor and beer from Club BBU, 21 W. Hylda Ave., after serving a warrant there about 5:20 p.m.
Reports said three officers went into the bar in plain clothes and ordered a beer. After they paid, they asked for the manager and said they were there because the bar’s liquor permit had expired.
The bar owner, Sadiya az-Zahrta, 45, showed officers liquor permits from February 2014 and February 2015 but there was no current liquor permit, reports said.
Officers carried out hundreds of bottles of liquor and beer. When they listed them on a police report, it took up four pages.
Also found in the bar were two bags of suspected marijuana in a closet along with a craps table, a poker table and a video poker machine.
Az-Zahrta was issued a citation for selling liquor without a permit as was the bartender who served the three undercover officers, Lestacia Scott, 25, of Elm Street.
Members of the Community Police Unit also took part in the raid.
A message left at the bar was not returned.