Nov. 04--A West Knoxville bar was the latest business to be padlocked as a public nuisance by police and prosecutors Thursday night, following numerous illicit prescription drug sales by its owners and managers.
The Knoxville Police Department served a nuisance injunction approved by Knox County Criminal Court Judge Bob McGee on the Game Room, 3800 Sutherland Ave.
The petition, signed by Knox County District Attorney General Randy Nichols, cites 13 purchases of oxycodone by undercover officers at the bar since April 2009.
The petition names owner Lorena Rice, managers Larry Lafollette and Kim Reno and patron Bridget Russell as making the illegal sales, the most recent of which allegedly occurred Oct. 13.
"Various controlled purchases were made from behind the bar and in storage rooms typically off-limits to anyone but The Game Room employees," the petition states. "On at least one occasion, the narcotics were stored under the bar itself.
"In short, The Game Room is saturated with illegal drug sales and other nuisance activity. The ownership is not only failing to take steps to stop the nuisance behavior, but is encouraging and participating in the activities. The owners and managers of the business are some of the most blatant actors in the said nuisance."
At least two other patrons were taken into custody at the scene Thursday for unrelated outstanding warrants, according to Knox County prosecutor Sean McDermott.
The Game Room is the 13th Knoxville business to be shut down using the nuisance injunction process.
Thursday's raid also is the second such action within the past week. Officers on Friday shut down the Copa Cabana Restaurant and Bar, 2610 Chapman Highway, where numerous fights and three shootings were reported in recent months.
Copyright 2011 - The Knoxville News-Sentinel, Tenn.
