CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - The party is over, for now, at Rocky’s 7440 Club on Auburn Boulevard in Citrus Heights. The bright neon lights are out. The doors are locked. The parking lot is empty. One of the most popular bars in the Citrus Heights area has been shut down by agents with the California Department of Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC). The 30-day suspension action issued by ABC will not allow Rocky’s 7440 to reopen until September 15^th.

The owner of this establishment, however, says his club will reopen once the suspension is lifted.

The state order to shut down follows what ABC calls an investigation into numerous complaints from home and business owners that surround the club, plus calls for service by the Citrus Heights Police Department (CHPD).

“For over a year, the CHPD responded numerous times to address reports of DUI, public intoxication, fights, battery, theft, and assault with a firearm at Rocky’s 7440 Club,” an ABC news release states. “ABC found that Rocky’s was operating as a disorderly premises.”

ABC lists the liquor license owners at Rocky’s 7440 Club as Richard and Arika Moffitt of Roseville. The news release issued by ABC says the owner of the establishment did sign a settlement with the agency that includes the 30-day suspension as well as new operating conditions on the license to serve alcohol at the club.

This agreement will result in restrictions on serving patrons outdoors, hosting live entertainment at the club and will also affect the hours of service. In addition, Rocky’s 7440 Club will be required to provide two uniformed security guards on site whenever there is live entertainment.

“Rocky’s is also on probation for the next three years,” said ABC Public Information Officer John Carr. “ABC has the power to revoke the club’s license to serve alcohol if there is any further trouble.”

CHPD Sgt. Anthony Boehle confirms that officers have been forced to respond to several recent incidents, which include two different shootings outside the club that left six people injured. Four people were injured in one shooting incident in May of last year. That one event forced CHPD to shut down streets in the neighborhood around Rocky’s 7440 Club while the investigation into the violence took place.

The first shooting incident near the club proved to be just the start of trouble. A second incident took place the very next weekend. Two others were injured following a second shooting. CHPD reported both incidents were gang related.

Sgt. Boehle told MPG that CHPD will be paying close attention to Rocky’s once the 30-day liquor license suspension is lifted.

“If we have a business that is causing problems, then we are going to pay attention,” said Boehle. “It is against the law to over serve someone. We will encourage our patrol officers to conduct bar checks. If we discover something that is out of order, CHPD will take action to correct the problem and notify ABC.”

The owner of Rocky’s 7440 Club believes the news stories about the shootings and his club have not been accurate. Richard “Rocky” Moffitt claims both incidents did not take place at the bar or anywhere on his property. In a statement that was emailed to MPG, Moffitt says both shootings occurred at businesses that are located nearby his club.

“My long-time business and its employees are being punished for something that happened during a once in a lifetime (COVID) pandemic, off our property and in areas that are out of our control,” Moffitt wrote. “I run a very safe business and always have been a vocal advocate for public safety and support law enforcement.”

Attorney Jeff Kravitz represents the professional license defense firm of Kravitz & Chan in Sacramento and has been defending the liquor licenses of clubs like Rocky’s 7440 for over 25 years. He tells MPG that the probation action issued by ABC “sounds worse than it is,” and it could have been longer.

“This type of ABC action happens all the time,” Kravitz told MPG. “I always counsel my clients that ABC is going to come to the business again after it reopens. This agency will run stings.”

Carr confirms that ABC will continue to monitor Rocky’s 7440 once the suspension action is served. Any further violations could result in additional actions. The agency has acted this year alone to permanently revoke liquor licenses at convenience stores in Kerman, Fresno, Hanford, Gilroy, and Marysville.

ABC also acted this year to revoke the liquor license of Grandma’s Sports Bar and Grill in Bakersfield. An ABC investigation found that Grandma’s was operating a “disorderly premises,” forcing the Kern County Sheriff’s Office to respond to multiple crimes and assaults at the bar.

“This type of action does take place on a case-by-case basis,” Carr said.

Rocky’s 7440 Club likes to bill itself as more than “just a bar.” The club’s website claims that it has been the “center of community meetings, family gatherings and has sponsored many local charities.” This list includes the Children’s Receiving Home of Sacramento, the CHPD’s Toys for Tots Program and the Mesa Verde High School Football Team.

Sgt. Boehle, however, says the service calls for crimes such as stabbings, shootings and patrons arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol must come to an end.

“I’ve been with CHPD since 2006,” Boehle said. “There have been other establishments in this city that have gone the way of the dodo (bird) because of crime problems.”

Moffitt, however, has no intention of going anywhere. He claims that he is using the state-imposed 30-day suspension to make his club a better and safer experience for his employees and customers.

“I always respect and follow ABC regulations,” Moffitt wrote to MPG. “I will continue to work hand-in-hand with local law enforcement.”