Pocono News Section

Nuisance Action Filed Against Glass Bar

Nuisance Action Filed Against Glass Bar - Monday, February 25, 2008 at 7:00PM EST

Reported by: Mike Trim
Monday, Feb 25, 2008 @07:00pm EST
EDWARDSVILLE, LUZERNE COUNTY- The Luzerne County District Attorney wants an Edwardsville bar shut down. The call for action comes one day after two women were shot, one dead and another injured outside The Glass Bar on Main Street.

The D.A.'s office says it's time the bar's owner bears responsibility for what happens there. Assistant District Attorney Michael Vough says, "At this point we feel this is the most appropriate way to diffuse the situation is to close down where this is being allowed to happen."

The D.A.'s office filed a 'Nuisance Action' against The Glass Bar. It's the first step in trying to shut it down. Vough says, "Clearly if you close down the establishment, you close their meeting place, you close their ability to meet together, to drink together, and use their weapons on each other together."

The Nuisance Act was filed last December, after a man was shot and killed inside the glass bar. Luzerne county assistant district attorney Tim Doherty says, "The fact of the matter is we've building a case we've been working on since the first homicide. We've been gathering evidence, interviewing the police officers."

And they've been passing out surveys to people living around the bar. The D.A.'s office is also interviewing Edwardsville business owners. Feedback will be used in a hearing to possibly shut the bar down. The decision whether or not to close the Glass Bar will ultimately be left up to a Court of Common Pleas judge.

But right now, there's no timetable on when a hearing will be held. A Nuisance Act hearing has closed two Luzerne County bars in the last 10 years, both in Wilkes-Barre. They were Choos Bar on Carey Avenue and Desi's on Hazle Street.

The White House Bar, also on Hazle Street had its liquor license revoked before the owners voluntarily closed.