Undercover Stings Reveal Alleged Underage Drug Sales, Shutters Bainbridge Business
After conducting multiple undercover purchases at A1 Smoke Shop in Bainbridge Township, the business was forced to close for alleged drug trafficking and illegal distribution of alternative nicotine products, according to Geauga County Court of Common Pleas records.
After law enforcement reportedly conducted multiple undercover purchases at A1 Smoke Shop in Bainbridge Township, officials forced the business to close for alleged drug trafficking and illegal distribution of alternative nicotine products, according to Geauga County Court of Common Pleas records.
The business — at 8551 E. Washington St. — has received a combined 10 complaints from the Geauga County Sheriff’s Office and Bainbridge Police Department related to the selling of marijuana and ANPs to minors.
The alleged incidents occurred between Nov. 1, 2023, and Nov. 14 of this year.
“We will hopefully be able to work with the owner of the shopping center to make sure that the business is evicted and all of their non-contraband items are removed from the store,” Geauga County Prosecutor Jim Flaiz said Nov. 21.
Bainbridge police and the prosecutor’s office have conducted multiple undercover underage purchases and drug buys at A1, according to court records.
Parents and grandparents reported their underage family members had purchased marijuana at A1, which police reportedly confirmed.
In addition, police used confidential informants — both under and over the age of 21 — to investigate whether underage marijuana sales were happening.
Most recently, Bainbridge Detective Matt Lawrence went undercover into A1 Nov. 14 and witnessed two teenage girls purchase ANPs without being asked for identification.
Ohio allows legal marijuana distribution, sale and use for people over the age of 21 at the limit of 2.5 ounces.
The court document noted there are no licensed dispensaries in Geauga County, according to Ohio Department of Commerce’s Division of Cannabis Control.
Based on this evidence, Flaiz believes drug possession and drug trafficking have occurred at A1 under the surveillance of the owner, “MM Washington LLC” of Westlake.
“We are still trying to ascertain exactly who owns the company,” Flaiz said. “That’s part of the ongoing investigation. We’ve identified two employees, but we are still investigating who the actual owner is.”
In addition, Flaiz recently filed a nuisance complaint against the business, which Geauga County Common Pleas Judge Matt Rambo accepted. This allowed Bainbridge police to board up the business.
The nuisance complaint prevents the owner, lessee or occupants from entering the premises in order to preserve evidence. It also aims to prevent the continuation of crimes, according to the complaint.
“I will keep pursuing the nuisance action in order to ensure that the store is closed permanently,” Flaiz said, adding the space would be released back to the owner.
Criminal charges will come from a grand jury at a later time, Flaiz said.
There is a preliminary injunction hearing scheduled for 10 a.m. Dec. 1 at the Geauga County Court of Common Pleas.
