MEMPHIS, TN – Shelby County District Attorney Bill Gibbons announced Monday that the D.A.’s office reached an agreement with the owners of Fox and Hound English Pub and Grille to dissolve the temporary injunction against the Cordova restaurant and bar and allow the business to reopen under specific conditions. In the agreement, the owners of Fox and Hound, located at 819 Exocet Drive, acknowledged that, without their sanction, employees engaged in nuisance behavior alleged a public nuisance petition filed by the D.A.’s office last week.
Last Thursday, special agents in the West Tennessee Judicial Drug Task Force closed the Fox and Hound by court order following an undercover drug investigation that revealed widespread illegal drug sales and usage at the establishment.
Under the agreement reached Monday with Fox and Hound, Environmental Court Judge Larry Potter will have continuing jurisdiction for one year to address any nuisance action that may occur in violation of the agreement. The business’ owners also agreed to the following conditions:
- Terminate all employees involved in the nuisance activity at the Fox and Hound, including those named in the nuisance petition or any other individual the D.A.’s office has any reason to believe was involved in the nuisance activity. These individuals will be terminated immediately and will have no access to the restaurant and bar, even as patrons.
- Require that all employees attend and complete a class conducted by members of the D.A.’s office and the Drug Task Force within two weeks concerning their duties and responsibilities with regard to drug prevention and use and compliance with state and local laws.
- Pay the sum of $1,250 to the West Tennessee Judicial Drug Task Force in lieu of auction of property to reimburse the agency for costs incurred during the investigation.
- Enforce strict anti-drug policies including strict anti-drug use policies among employees.
- Perform criminal background checks on employees before hiring or before continued employment.
If any of these conditions are violated, the D.A.’s office may petition the Environmental Court to reinstate the temporary injunction and again close the business.
“We were contacted by the Fox and Hound’s corporate ownership shortly after closing the business last week. They were cooperative and quick with a response to the nuisance petition. We believe they have made a good faith effort to stop the criminal activity taking place inside and outside the restaurant, and we will hold Fox and Hound to its agreement,” said District Attorney Gibbons.
The investigation into Fox and Hound in Cordova started late last year when agents learned from sources in a two separate investigations that employees of the restaurant and bar were involved in drug sales on the premises. The nuisance petition stated that, while undercover, Drug Task Force agents purchased illegal and prescription drugs from employees of Fox and Hound on at least five occasions between April 19 and May 20, 2010. These drug purchases were made from employees inside the restaurant and bar, and in the business’ parking lot.
The D.A.’s Office, working with investigations by law enforcement agencies, has filed petitions against the owners of more than 200 properties, both residential and businesses, under the Tennessee nuisance law. Some nuisance actions have resulted in permanent closure of the properties. Others have reopened under consent orders to alleviate the nuisance.