GR wants troubled bar license to expire

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - After police responded to six shootings in 2009 the last three years, Grand Rapids officials want to take a Division Avenue bar's liquor license away.

GRPD has been to Salsa's Nightclub 1,400 times since 2007. Two of the six shootings in 2009 occurring in and around the bar located at 645 South Division, happened back in December. And so far this year, police have responded to the bar also known as Azucar's 56 times.

Those calls for service have put a serious strain on the ability of officers to respond to other problems according to one GRPD captain.

"It is a big number," GRPD Capt. Eric Payne told 24 Hour News 8. "It's something that's been a concern for us, even before our personnel cuts."

The city is not asking for the business liquor license to be revoked. The license comes up for renewal in May. The city attorney hopes the State liquor Control Commission takes the request into consideration before granting a license renewal. That hearing is set for March 9.

Police say they've tried to work with owner of the bar, Roosevelt Tillman, but things have not improved.

"They've been willing to meet," said Payne. "However, I have not seen the improvements I've requested." Those improvements include better lighting, security cameras and other improved security measures.

Tillman declined comment on the problems until after he's met again with police.

He's well known in the city for handing out backpacks to school children and bringing job creating redevelopment projects along South Division and other neighborhoods.

Some members of the city commission urged police and the attorneys office to give Tillman more time.

"What is conflicting to me is the owner is a friend of Grand Rapids," said First Ward Commissioner Walt Gutowski. "I would encourage all parties to definitely get together and establish some ground rules we can all live with."

But the calls for service have put a serious strain on the ability of officers to respond to other problems.

"Whenever we have to dedicate officers to a particular problem area, whether it's this particular location or anywhere, it's something we look at and see how we can address it," Payne said.