ELYRIA — Now that the Lorain County Zulus Motorcycle Club has pulled out of its downtown Elyria clubhouse, Lorain County prosecutors have dropped their effort to close the club down as a nuisance for a full year.
In an agreement reached Friday, prosecutors agreed to allow the owners of 579 Broad St., where the club was until last month, to have full use of the property.
Employees of KDS&J LLC had been barred under a court order from entering the property except to perform maintenance.
Prosecutors obtained a court order early last month after a string of incidents at the club — including a brawl that led to riot charges against several people outside the clubhouse. The order barred club members from having alcohol there, and it also prevented the club from charging admission to nonmembers to allow them entry.
The Zulus, who have insisted it was patrons of other bars not their members who caused the problems downtown, moved out of the club late last month.
Police found marijuana, weapons and liquor at the club when they searched the building on April 11, the night of the large brawl. Three club members later pleaded guilty to selling liquor at the club illegally.
A stabbing outside the club in February and other problems led police, prosecutors and city officials to ask county Common Pleas Judge Mark Betleski to board the club up for a year.
County Prosecutor Dennis Will said he was satisfied the problem had been dealt with.
“They voluntarily vacated the premise, we verified that and the owners changed the locks,” he said. “They’re no longer going to be a presence there, so any problems that would have arisen have been abated.”
After moving out of the clubhouse, Zulus President Madara “Big D” Edmonds said the group doesn’t intend to open a new clubhouse and will keep a low profile.
Contact Brad Dicken at 329-7147 or bdicken@chroniclet.com.