COLUMBUS, Ohio — Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein has filed a lawsuit to declare the Doll House in northeast Columbus a public nuisance.
The lawsuit stems from a string of shootings, violent crimes and other illegal activity at the strip club, including a fatal shooting in January.
Additionally, Klein says the City of Columbus is urging the court to shut down The Dollhouse in the near future until the club’s owners are able to demonstrate they have been able to address safety and security concerns. The strip club could be closed for up to a year if owners don’t comply.
Klein says in recent years, the Doll House has seen a rash of crimes both inside and outside the club, from violence and drug use to prostitution and other illegal activity. The club is located just blocks away from residential homes, local businesses and a church.
“The level of violence and criminal conduct at this business is unacceptable, and while owners have indicated they want to step up to make changes, this lawsuit allows the City to step in as needed to hold owners accountable,” he said. “The City needs to see a real commitment to substantially improve safety and security, and will not hesitate to take appropriate legal action if those benchmarks aren’t met.”
According to court documents, Columbus police have taken 51 incident reports at the premises since January 2021, including multiple shootings, a homicide, robbery, felony assaults, overdoses and motor vehicle thefts. Emergency personnel has also responded to some 180 calls for services to the club, including for fights, shootings, sex crimes, overdoses, burglary and a stabbing.
On Jan. 29, Charles Smith was killed and three other people were injured in a shooting at the strip club. Police identified 21-year-old Travis Ingram Jr. as the suspect in the shooting and charged him with murder and felonious assault.
Klein’s office says the City found that there were significant breaches of the club’s safety and security protocols in that incident. The shooting suspect was able to gain entrance to the club without being searched.
The City also found that the metal detector at the front door was not being used and the ID scanner was missing. The Doll House only has two of six security personnel at the club.
Additionally, Klein highlighted the following incidents that occurred at the strip club:
- In March 2021, CPD officers were dispatched to the premises on the report of a shooting.
- In May 2021, CPD and CFD responded to an overdose and administered NARCAN to the individual.
- In September 2021, CPD was dispatched to the premises on multiple occasions, including for a reported shooting, reports of a gun at the premises, an assault, and a robbery.
- In December 2021, CPD responded to a stabbing at the premises, dispatched to Grant hospital on a report of a shooting at the premises, and responded to multiple assaults at the club.
- In 2022, CPD responded to numerous assaults, overdoses and fights, including a September 2022 incident where five victims were shot.
In late December, Columbus City Council voted to reject the renewal of the Doll House's liquor license. The Ohio Liquor Control Board is scheduled to have a hearing on the license in the coming months.