By Jane Prendergast
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Cincinnati police are closely watching a longtime downtown bar that's drawing complaints about its clientele.

Officers met Wednesday with operators of The Bay Horse CafÈ, a bar across Main Street from the Aronoff Center for the Arts. Arts patrons and neighboring businesses have complained to police and City Hall about panhandling and other incidents around the bar.

"I think it's a clientele issue more than anything, and not necessarily something that's the bar's fault," said Capt. Greg Snider, District 1 commander. "We look at it as something we should do, to sit down with them and talk about the issues. They may not be aware of what's going on."

Police say other problems surround the bar, including public urination and at least one sexual incident in an alley near the bar.

A Bay Horse bartender said Wednesday night that his boss already had talked about trying to do something about the problems. But he said he didn't yet know what those solutions might be.

Officers early Wednesday made an arrest near another bar the vice squad has been watching - The Next Level on 12th Street in Over-the-Rhine. Officers watched one man shoot another.

They chased the suspect, Germaine Evans, 21, caught him and charged him with felonious assault, carrying a concealed weapon and receiving stolen property. Victim Jerome Henderson, 22, was hit in the leg. The gun was stolen, court records said.

Vice and Violent Crime Squad officers met with operators of The Next Level after operators of bars nearby in the Main Street district complained about cruising cars blocking traffic and about several violent incidents that occurred in parking lots near the bar.

The most significant action against a bar is pending against Uncle Milt's in Avondale. District 4's Violent Crime Squad started surveillance on it last year after complaints about drug-dealing and violence - and because residents of the nearby Ronald McDonald House for parents of sick children felt unsafe. Ultimately, officers and confidential informants bought drugs inside from employees.

E-mail jprendergast@enquirer.com