Warner Robins council revokes CRU Lounge’s liquor license

WARNER ROBINS—In an emotional meeting Monday night, Warner Robins City Council revoked a liquor license for CRU Lounge, a business the police department deemed a public nuisance. Council voted unanimously on April 1 to revoke the license.

City Attorney Julia Mize said between Jan. 13, 2022 and March 15, 2024, police received 148 calls to the nightclub, resulting in 78 incident reports.

June 2022, a fight led to a shooting, killing one. Recently, a woman was arrested and charged with aggravated assault after a shooting broke out March 15, injuring three.

“This has put a strain on the police department and also an emergent concern for public safety. It is the recommendation of [Police] Chief [Wayne] Fisher …  that the alcohol liquor license be suspended or revoked on this basis,” Mize said.

The city sent two letters to Desmond Cobbs, the club’s owner, asking him to appear and make a case against the revocation.

Cobbs said the letters were sent to his home address rather than his business and received on the Friday before the hearing. He also said the summons letter incorrectly listed his business name.

Given the turnaround time, Cobbs asked for a continuance.

“If the city of Warner Robins proceeds today with the show cause hearing regarding my alcohol license, I will be deprived of my right to recieve due process on the state of Georgia Constitution and the United States Constitution based on the discrepancies from the letter notifying me of the so called hearing,” he said.

Mize responded, saying the business name was a typo, but since the letter was received on Friday, it provided three days’ notice, a sufficient timeframe according to city code.

She also said the letters were sent to the home address based on prior correspondence and the hearing’s nature.

“I knew time was of the essence and I wanted to make sure that he received it. I understood from police chief that it was an emergent situation and I knew it would be a tight turnaround,” Mize said.

Fisher took the stand next, outlining the call volume against the lounge. As he explained, 148 calls for service, divided by the nights the club was open, averaged six calls per month. Similar businesses ranged from .7 to 2.5 calls per month.

“It’s going to be pretty obvious when I get done explaining what we’ve got going on here, that CRU Lounge is an epicenter of a lot of criminal behavior up in and around that area,” Fisher said.

Fisher said the lounge was connected to crimes at a nearby hotel and convenience store, and the club location was connected to multiple shootings, DUIs, pursuits, batteries, sexual assaults, drug activity and a homicide.

As Fisher explained, the club hired private security, but the Secretary of State’s office told the police department a guard was unlicensed. After investigating the claim, the security officer was arrested the same night the recent shooting broke out.

Fisher deemed the business a nuisance due to the volume of calls, patrons’ blocking of emergency vehicle access, and littering at the nearby hotel.

“I’m not going to say the business owners, but the participants they’re going up there and causing issues up at their property and damaging up there as well. So, in all, CRU Lounge is a nuisance to the public safety and order of that immediate area,” he said.

Cobbs responded, saying he made attempts to curb parking issues and said he hasn’t seen fights inside the lounge. He also said he met with the police department and the situation had improved for several months.

“For me to be [responsible for] these charges and consider me as a public nuisance, that’s disrespectful. It’s like, there’s no way I can be accountable for all these charges or incidents,” he said.

Councilman Charlie Bibb responded, asking what Cobbs was responsible for. Cobbs responded, saying he bumped security to up to seven guards, depending on the night.

“I hold responsibility for my patronage, both inside and outside. That’s why I did everything I was asked to do,” Cobbs said.

Bibb then mentioned the unlicensed guard, and Cobbs said security was hired through a third party.

“You owning that business down there — anybody that comes in or sends anybody to your business — don’t you think it’s your due diligence, sir, to make sure that everybody that’s coming on your establishment is right? Where is the responsibility for you?” Bibb asked.

Mayor LaRhonda Patrick thanked Cobbs for making his case and said revoking the license is not a personal reflection of him. She added that the city welcomes businesses that aim to improve quality of life.

“In this case, we have a business who is frequented by patrons who don’t necessarily have that same interest in the city of Warner Robins as far as improving the quality of life,” Patrick said.

She added ensuring public safety is her job as mayor.

“We have a duty to make sure we’re protecting our citizens at all times. So, looking at the facts, which have been presented before us, the number of calls that have been received, taking our police off of the field to address repeated calls at the same establishment for the same type of criminal offenses has caused great concern,” she said.

After the revocation, Patricia Walker took the stand, a mother of one of the CRU Lounge’s March shooting victims. She said her daughter was shot twice in the chest and still suffers from her wounds. 

“She’s still suffering, physically and mentally, and I’m having to deal with that,” she said.

“It was her choice, true, for her to attend the club. But it wasn’t her choice to get shot twice”

Patricia Walker

She thanked council for their actions and spoke to their impact on safety.

“That’s a start, not just for my child, for all the children, not just in Houston County, but every county. Our young people, I agree, they don’t make the best choices, but we as parents need to continue to stand up and support them. And I thank you all for the choice of revoking the license of the club,” Walker said.

After Walker spoke, Patrick invited the council to pray with her and council. Bibb said during prayer the city has a responsibility to help curtail evil and ensure businesses operate to standards, before shifting the focus to encouraging Walker and praying for her daughter’s recovery.

“Lord, just use this to change lives,” Bibb said.

For a full look at the agenda, visit here.

A full recap of the meeting can be found on the city’s Facebook page.