The Richland County Sheriff’s Department issued a warning after multiple women were recently hospitalized and said their drinks might have been spiked with a date rape drug at the same bar in Columbia.
“Always be aware of your surroundings and never leave your drinks unattended,” Sheriff Leon Lott said Monday in a news release.
The public safety announcement comes after a recent 4-hour stretch where there were two separate instances of women being taken to a hospital after getting drinks at TLC Sports Bar and Grill at 936 South Stadium Road, according to the release. That’s in a part of Columbia between the Congareee River and Bluff Road, about a third of a mile from Williams-Brice Stadium.
At about 11 p.m. on Oct. 31, deputies were flagged down by a young woman who said that she and a friend were at the sports bar, and she believed her friend might have been “roofied,” the sheriff’s department said.
The victim was taken to a hospital by EMS, according to the release. Further information on the victim’s condition was not available.
There was another similar incident hours later.
At about 2:20 a.m. on Nov. 1, deputies were dispatched to a local hospital where they met with another woman who also said that she believed her friend might have been drugged while she was at TLC Sports Bar and Grill, the sheriff’s department said.
The friend took that victim to the hospital, according to the release. Further information on that victim’s condition was not available.
Following those incidents the sheriff’s department began an investigation and said it learned that there was a previous report from September which was similar.
On Sept. 13, deputies responded to a local hospital where a young woman was being treated and said she believed that she was “roofied” while she was at TLC Sports Bar and Grill, according to the release. Further information on that victim’s condition was not available.
“In every one of these instances the victims were with friends who were able to get them help, but it could have had greater consequences,” Lott said.
No arrests have been reported, but the sheriff’s department it is continuing to investigate the multiple reports of “possible narcotics being dispensed in alcoholic beverages at the location.”
There was an arrest after a recent shooting at TLC Sports Bar and Grill, according to the release.
On Sept. 6, deputies responded to a shooting with multiple victims at the sports bar, the sheriff’s department said. Deputies said they identified three victims at the hospital who were shot while at the sports bar. All victims suffered injuries to their lower bodies, according to the release. Further information on the victims’ conditions was not available.
Following the gunfire, 38-year-old Equon Deliek Primus was charged with three counts of attempted murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime, the sheriff’s department said. No bond was set for Primus, who remains behind bars and also faces a possession of a firearm by a convicted felon charge from Lexington County, jail records show.
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