BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – An East Baton Rouge Metro Council member is calling a business after reports of criminal activity.
Along Scotland Avenue near the Blues Highway is Vince’s Liquor Store, which stays busy with customers coming and going, but some say they’re not always the best.
“Multiple reports, not just to me, but to BRPD of fights, loud music, prostitution or drug transactions,” Metro Councilwoman Chauna Banks said.
Banks, along with the Baton Rouge Police Department and the Bureau of Alcoholic Beverage Control, call a community meeting to discuss whether or not Vince’s Liquor Store should close its doors.
“I don’t know if the owner understands that they are still responsible for … that the owner understands that they are still responsible for this type of behavior. They still have to establish some kind of direction of what is allowed and what is not allowed,” Banks added.
Banks explained that many times people come into the store, buy alcohol and then cause trouble on the street. Attempts were made to get Vince’s Liquor Store’s version of the story, but no one got back to us.
In the past six months, there have been two shootings near Vince’s, one of which claimed the life of a 17-year-old.
“It’s definitely pedestrians, and it happens all day and night,” said one business owner, who also opens its doors to customers on Scotland Ave. “The cops come by now and then, but I think they need to be in the field.”
Some business owners believe that closing the liquor store would not solve the problem.
“I don’t think they should close it. I don’t think it has anything to do with the store. I think we need more police officers working,” added one business owner.
The community meeting will take place on Tuesday, August 23 at the Greater Mount Carmel Baptist Church from 5:30 p.m.
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