Patel was charged after Clearcreek Township police allegedly found openly displayed pornography as well as bath salts, “spice” and drug paraphernalia inside the store on the northeast corner of 48 and Ohio 73 on June 18 during a search also involving agents with the Ohio Department of Public Safety’s Special Investigative Unit.
Patel has pleaded not guilty. A pretrial hearing is scheduled for Aug. 10.
State agents cited the liquor permit holder, VED Petroleum, doing business as Waynesville Food Mart, for hindering or obstructing inspection, drug paraphernalia possession and drug paraphernalia sales, according to Julie Hinds, spokeswoman for the Ohio Department of Public Safety.
A store clerk, Mehul Patel, 27, of Springboro is charged with obstructing official business, resisting arrest and failure to disclose personal information when police came to search the store on June 18, three days after police first investigated a customer’s complaint about pornography on display, according to police reports. Patel pleaded not guilty and is set to return to court on July 27.
Police reported viewing two magazines displaying “full frontal nudity and sexual intercourse” on display. Ohio law requires such materials to be sold in racks blinding the displays or kept out of public view.
Police are awaiting results of tests on “Loco Motion Bath Salts” and “Pandora Potpourri” taken in a search of the store, Clearcreek Twp. Police Chief John Terrill said.
Once the local cases have been concluded, the Ohio Liquor Control Commission would consider action also weighing allegations in the state agents’ citations, Hinds said.
Police have received other complaints about the business, Terrill said.
Depending on the owner’s response, Terrill said he might encourage township trustees to protest renewal of the store’s liquor permits.
“My patience is running thin,” Terrill said.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2261 or lbudd@Dayton DailyNews.com.
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