Man facing charges after sheriff’s deputies respond to fight at hookah bar
MARION, Ill. (KBSI) – A man faces charges after sheriff’s deputies say he tried to enter a hookah bar with a handgun and started a fight.
Gregory A. Robinson faces charges of unlawful use of a weapon by a felon, aggravated assault and disorderly conduct.
Williamson County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a “fight in progress” at 8230 Old Route 13 in rural Marion at 4:04 a.m. on December 30.
The location is known as B&B Shisha Lounge which is a hookah lounge (bar), owned and operated by Brent A. Battles.
Sheriff’ deputies say the location has been the site of numerous calls for service, disturbances, a search warrant, and is the subject of an ongoing unlicensed liquor establishment investigation.
Deputies spoke to Battles who said a black male in a hoodie, later identified as Robinson, tried to enter the bar with a handgun.
According to Battles, Robinson got angry with him and then entered his vehicle with several other people to leave. Battles said he saw Robinson point a silver handgun at him as he was spinning his tires to leave, according to sheriff’s deputies.
Deputies recovered one live Luger 9mm round from the parking lot.
Deputies tried to speak with other witnesses on scene, but were unsuccessful because no one would cooperate.
Authorities say Battles had video surveillance on his property, but did not provide it.
Around 7:15 a.m, the Carterville Police Department responded to a disturbance at Huck’s Convenience Store at the intersection of Illinois Route 13 and Greenbriar Road. Police found Robinson was at the disturbance. He was detained in reference to the previous incident.
Deputies responded to the scene and Robinson was arrested.
During the investigation, sheriff’s depudites was documented that Brent A. Battles is continuing to operate an unlicensed liquor establishment. The business, operating under the name of B&B Shisha Lounge, charges a monetary cover charge at the door and serves alcoholic beverages, according to authorities with the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office.
“Unlicensed liquor establishments are intentionally circumventing regulations that are in place for public safety. Legitimate licensed liquor establishments are subjected to routine inspections, bar checks during operating hours, and must adhere to designated operating hours (usually 2am). In this incident law enforcement responded to armed, disorderly, and intoxicated crowds at 4:00 am.
This has been a consistent outcome involving three unlicensed liquor establishments in Williamson County over the past several years. At least two have experienced large disturbances and/or shots fired calls including one with multiple vehicles being struck by gunfire.”
After a lengthy investigation and the arrest of the owners of one unlicensed liquor establishment, that facility has permanently closed.
Robinson was taken to the Williamson County Jail.
The Carterville Police Department, Energy Police Department, Marion Police Department, the Illinois Liquor Commission and Williamson County State’s Attorney Ted Hampson assisted the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office.
The investigation is ongoing.
