FORREST COUNTY — The City of Hattiesburg alleges years of shootings, fights and other criminal activity at the Hardy Street Cook Out in court documents seeking court intervention over what it describes as a public nuisance.
The city filed suit in Forrest County Chancery Court on June 11, seeking a temporary restraining order and other court remedies aimed at abating what it describes as a public nuisance at the restaurant.
According to the filing, Cook Out has “permitted improper and illegal activity” at the property over the past several years. The city alleges incidents at the location have included shootings, firearm discharges, aggravated assaults involving firearms, fights, vandalism and other disorderly conduct.
The filing states those activities have the potential to cause immediate and irreparable harm to members of the public and have created what the city describes as a dangerous public nuisance.
Among the incidents cited in the lawsuit is a June 7 call to the restaurant at approximately 12:55 a.m. Hattiesburg Police Department officers responded to a report of a discharged firearm and a possible gunshot victim. According to court documents, officers did not locate a gunshot victim.
As an officer was leaving the location, an interaction with an individual attempting to enter the restaurant resulted in the person’s firearm being confiscated and the individual being placed in handcuffs, according to the filing.
Court documents state that 66 shell casings, along with live ammunition and counterfeit money, were found on and around the property that night.
According to the lawsuit, city officials made repeated attempts to contact Cook Out representatives before pursuing legal action but said those efforts were largely unsuccessful. The filing states Cook Out representatives had been “very dismissive” of the city’s concerns until June 10.
The city is asking the court to grant relief that it says is necessary to abate the alleged nuisance.
Cook Out did not respond to a request for comment before publication. RHCJC will update this story if a response is received.
