A1 Smoke Shop in Bainbridge Township has been shuttered after multiple undercover purchases uncovered alleged drug trafficking and illegal sales of alternative nicotine products, according to Geauga County Court of Common Pleas records.

The shop, at 8551 E. Washington St., drew a total of 10 complaints from the Geauga County Sheriff’s Office and Bainbridge Police Department alleging sales of marijuana and ANPs to minors. The incidents are said to have occurred between Nov. 1, 2023, and Nov. 14 of this year.

Bainbridge police and the prosecutor’s office conducted several undercover underage purchases and drug buys at A1. Parents and grandparents reported that underage relatives had bought marijuana there, which police say they subsequently confirmed. Investigators also used confidential informants, both under and over 21, to probe alleged underage marijuana sales.

On Nov. 14, Bainbridge Detective Matt Lawrence went undercover and observed two teenage girls buy alternative nicotine products without being asked for identification.

Ohio law permits marijuana possession, sale and use for people 21 and older, up to 2.5 ounces. The court filing notes there are no licensed dispensaries in Geauga County, according to the Ohio Department of Commerce’s Division of Cannabis Control.

Geauga County Prosecutor Jim Flaiz said the evidence suggests drug possession and trafficking occurred at A1 under the oversight of the listed owner, “MM Washington LLC” of Westlake. “We are still trying to ascertain exactly who owns the company,” Flaiz said. “That’s part of the ongoing investigation. We’ve identified two employees, but we are still investigating who the actual owner is.”

Flaiz recently filed a nuisance complaint against the business, which Geauga County Common Pleas Judge Matt Rambo accepted. That action allowed Bainbridge police to board up the store and bars the owner, lessee or occupants from entering the premises to preserve evidence and help prevent further crimes.

“We will hopefully be able to work with the owner of the shopping center to make sure that the business is evicted and all of their non-contraband items are removed from the store,” Flaiz said Nov. 21. “I will keep pursuing the nuisance action in order to ensure that the store is closed permanently,” he added, noting the space would be returned to the property owner.

Criminal charges are expected to be determined by a grand jury at a later date. A preliminary injunction hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. Dec. 1 at the Geauga County Court of Common Pleas.

This article was adapted from an original report published on geaugamapleleaf.com. All rights belong to the original publisher.