COLUMBUS, Ohio — After months of controversy and a deadly shooting, hearings began on Friday in the case surrounding the Greyhound bus terminal in west Columbus.
The city of Columbus first filed the lawsuit against the bus terminal on North Wilson Road several months ago. On Friday, each side gave their opening statements and several witnesses were called to the stand.
The city is arguing the bus station should be shut down due to a number of safety and security concerns. Along with being a nuisance to some of the people who live and work nearby, a 42-year-old man was shot and killed there in early October.
The defense attorneys representing Greyhound and Barons Bus said they have met every requirement asked of them by the city, and feel this movement to shut the terminal down is a political stunt.
“This operation operating illegally at this site is doing too much in too small of a space, literally spilling out into the street, spilling out into neighboring areas and harming those people that live and work around there,” said Steve Dunbar, assistant city attorney for Columbus.
“We were fully entitled to a certificate of occupancy, that the lead inspector for this site told Barons Bus drivers you’re good to go, you’re good to open operations and it was only afterward, after we began operations, that the city treated this like a political issue,” said Joseph Miller, counsel for Wilson 845, LLC and Barons Bus Inc.
One of the witnesses called to the stand, Joshua Obelenus, said cameras in the front and back of his home have captured some of the issues he believes were caused by the bus terminal over the past several months.
In one video, more than a dozen gunshots can be heard being fired off the night a man was shot and killed at the terminal. The man believed to be the suspect in that shooting can then be seen minutes later walking through his neighbor’s yard.
“He checked my neighbor’s two vehicles to see if they were unlocked, stowed his pistol, then he’s coming over to my car to check and see if it's unlocked,” Obelenus said.
Along with safety and security concerns, Obelenus said it's also a nuisance causing traffic backups and roadblocks.
Attorneys representing Greyhound and Barons Bus argued there were problems before the bus terminal opened, including homeless camps nearby.
Heather McAfee, the property manager for several apartment complexes, was the next witness called to testify. She manages Lindendale and Meadowood complexes which are both located on Wilson Rd. near the bus terminal.
McAfee said the crime and threats to the property that she believes came with the terminal opening have forced some residents to move out of the complex.
But, the defendants argued there are other factors that could also be contributing to this.
According to court documents, Mayor Andrew Ginther is accused of trying to influence a judge in the case. The judge said Ginther called them and asked them to shut the Greyhound station down for the benefit of the community.
When contacted, a spokesperson with the Mayor’s office said, “At the heart of the matter is the fact that the company continues to operate against the will of the community, and we will continue to do everything we can to keep the neighborhood safe.”
The hearings for this case will continue Monday morning when several members of law enforcement are expected to testify why they believe this bus terminal is unsafe.