City revokes business license after bust

Grovetown City Council member David Daughtry called the decision a no-brainer.

Seemingly agreeing with that sentiment, Grovetown council members voted unanimously to revoke the business license of a local car wash two weeks after officers from several law enforcement agencies raided the business and charged the owner with drug possession.

At Thursday's called meeting, Army Sgt. Dominic Neal Robinson, co-owner of Grovetown Car Care, asked city leaders not to take away his license - which was temporarily suspended on Monday during the regularly scheduled meeting.

"We provide a great service to the community," Robinson said of his car wash, which opened in March.

According to a letter sent to Grovetown City Hall by Grovetown Director of Public Safety Al Robinson, the business was the subject of a narcotics investigation by the Columbia County Sheriff's Office narcotics unit and the Grovetown Department of Public Safety.

During that investigation, the letter said, officers were able to buy cocaine and crack "on several occasions."

The letter says officers found cocaine in Robinson's car, and he was arrested. Officers told council members they also found drug residue and paraphernalia inside the business.

"They found drugs on the property, end of story," Daughtry said. "We have no tolerance for that."

Robinson conceded officers found a small amount of cocaine in his vehicle, but said the car arrived 30 to 40 minutes after officers began searching the business and that several people had driven it throughout the day.

"Nobody has taken responsibility for the drugs," Robinson told council members.

After revoking the license, council members said they would take a second look at giving back the license if Robinson is acquitted. Fort Gordon officials are handling the matter because he lives on post.

"That could take three to four months," Robinson said. "I don't know what I am going to do until then."