Beer, Food, Bar Fights, and Padlocks: One Franklin Bar’s History of Nuisance Calls

The Tin Roof 2 bar in Cool Springs, Tennessee had its doors padlocked by the Franklin Police Department a few weeks ago due to a court order. The town claims that the bar has been a nuisance to its neighbors, the town, and the Franklin Police Department, citing more than 296 incidents at the location since the beginning of 2020 alone. These incidents have included bar fights, theft, public indecency, rape, assault, and DUI.

After a hearing with the Franklin Beer Board, a ruling was handed down for the bar. The owners of Tin Roof 2 were fined $3,000, remained padlocked for five days, and could only reopen to serve food. The Beer Board issued a 30-day beer permit suspension, meaning the bar cannot serve any alcohol when it reopens for at least 30 days.

Once the suspension ends, the bar must close each night by 11 pm to match the curfew set forth by Davidson County. The bar claims that most of the Franklin criminal incidents involving police have happened in their parking lot, where their insurance does not permit employees to intervene.

“We reached an agreement with the defendants that the padlock could be removed,” said Bill Squires, assistant attorney for the city. “Their beer license and liquor license are suspended. The defendant has agreed to change their closing hours.”

Bar co-owner Jason Shear told WSMV, “We talked about potential roadblocks coming off the highway. Talked about meeting with the head of the Franklin Police department. I requested that. My business partner and I would be more than happy to pay for off duty uniformed police.”

What happens if you get into a Tennessee bar fight?

The bar scene throughout Tennessee doesn’t seem to slow down at any point in the year. Having a few drinks with friends isn’t always an innocent outing when a member of your party gets into a fight with another bar patron. Bar fights, brawls, and other incidents are all too common in bars across the state. If you get into a bar fight in Franklin or any other location in Tennessee, you could face the following charges:

• Disturbing the peace. This is a misdemeanor charge that is penalized with no more than 90 days in jail or a fine of up to $400.
• Assault. This is a serious crime that doesn’t always include bodily harm. If you threaten violence against someone else by brandishing a weapon, you can be charged with assault. In Tennessee, this crime is penalized with up to six months in county jail and a fine of $1,000.
• Battery. This is a crime where you use force to hurt another person. If the injuries were not serious, you could face up to six months in county jail and a $2,000 fine. If the bar fight led to serious physical harm, the charges could be elevated to a felony.

If you were arrested and charged with assault in Franklin, TN, it is imperative that you speak with an experienced Franklin criminal defense attorney immediately. The team at the Law Offices of Adrian H. Altshuler & Associates can review the charges against you and explain the criminal process. Call our office at 615-977-9370 or complete a contact form to schedule a consultation today. We operate offices in Brentwood, Franklin, and Columbia, TN, to better serve our clients.