Okaloosa Nipa Hut faces more trouble

OKALOOSA COUNTY, Fla. (WALA) - The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office says the Nipa Hut nightclub owners have ten days to come into compliance with state law, or possibly lose their liquor license.

The Sheriff's Office, along with the Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco, inspected the nightclub and it's liquor license on March 5 around 9pm.

Agents say the owners, James and Edna Emerson, are not in compliance with their existing license. The Sheriff's Office has been working since January to explore the potential for having the business shutdown under a nuisance abatement process.

Deputies say in addition to shootings in January 2010 and December 2009, 1,051 calls were made for service between Janauary 2005 and February 2010.

Twenty batteries, eighty disturbances, five weapons offenses, five aggravated batteries, forty-nine disorderly conduct calls and 273 loud music complaints were all made within that 1,051-call timeframe.

Anonymous complaints prompted the ABT officials to join the investigation.

If the owners don't comply within ten days, a case will be filed to revoke their license. They then have twenty-one days to agree to turn in the license or request a hearing before a state administrative officer.

If you'd like details on the inspection's findings, call the Communications Director, Jenn Meale, at 850-922-8981 at the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.