Birmingham sues downtown Cru Lounge for being ‘breeding term’ for lewd, exhibitionist behavior

The city of Birmingham is suing the owners and operators of a downtown lounge, asking a judge to temporarily shut down the business that has been “used as a breeding ground” for illegal activity.

Both Cru Birmingham, LLC and the owner, PFS Birmingham II, LLC are named in the case. Efforts to reach them for comment were not immediately successful.

The lawsuit is filed by the city prosecutor’s office.

Earlier this week, a similar lawsuit was filed against the Shell and Boston Fish Supreme station on Third Avenue West following a weekend shooting that left one man dead and six others injured.

Cru Tuscaloosa was closed earlier this year after a shooting there.

The city cites ongoing problems at Cru for the past month, including dangerous display driving, lewd behavior and excessive noise violations at the 2300 First Ave location. North.

Birmingham police, city officials said, responded to calls about a person shot following an altercation on the property, multiple traffic problems created by customers and an excessive number of people walking on the property.

The city alleges that Cru Birmingham, LLC failed to take steps to stop or reduce the illegal activity.

The court filing states that the property is “a haven for lewd and lascivious behavior on the part of its patrons, excessive loiterers and any other members of the public who may decide to enter … with the intention of engaging in criminal activity.” .

The city is asking the court to issue an order requiring Cru Birmingham, LLC to take necessary steps to eliminate any criminal activity and allowing the city to prohibit Cru Birmingham, LLC from continuing to operate if it does not comply. .

The city has asked the court to grant an emergency hearing and a protective order related to the identities of residents who want to testify about it.

Code of Alabama, 1975, Section 6-5-156.3 allows municipalities to apply for a permanent injunction against property preventing further use as a drug nuisance and to seek damages pursuant to Section 6-5-155.6 (d)(4) .

In the spring of 2020, City Attorney Nicole King created the Office of the City Attorney’s Drug and Nuisance Reduction Team, also known as DNAT, which works through the courts to hold landowners accountable for maintaining clean up of properties and for the decrease of crime and associated misery. with unpleasant problems.

More than 120 properties received requests for corrective actions. DNAT continues to investigate other properties.

DNAT works with the Birmingham Police Department to identify areas where landlords are not taking care of properties or providing inadequate security.

Property problems related to drugs and nuisances can be reported by email to [email protected] or residents can call the Internal Drug Abatement and Warden Team at 205-254-2369 during normal business hours.