Toledo Strip Club: The Peppermint Hippo at Center of Multiple Investigations into Drunk Driving Deaths
The Peppermint Hippo, a strip club located in Western Toledo, Ohio, has recently found itself at the center of a troubling investigation linked to multiple drunk driving incidents that resulted in fatalities. The situation raises critical questions about the responsibilities of establishments that serve alcohol, the legal repercussions of the actions, and the broader implications for public safety. The ongoing scrutiny encompasses both criminal cases involving patrons who have driven under the influence and civil cases that highlight the potential liability of the club itself.
In recent times, Toledo has witnessed several tragic incidents involving drunk driving that have been traced back to the Peppermint Hippo. Reports indicate that Patrons who consumed alcohol at the club were involved in fatal accidents after leaving the premises. These incidents have prompted law enforcement agencies to investigate not only the actions of the drivers but also the role of the establishment in serving alcohol to these individuals. The Toledo Strip Club is named in two criminal cases and a civil lawsuit in which two drivers drank excessively and then drove, killing three people. There Is also an investigation into whether the bartender’s served alcohol to an underage person in a separate case.
The Toledo Police Department asked its office to figure out where Kenneth Pegler, 55, drank on July 30, when he is accused of killing Nicholas Reinhart, 30, as he rode his bicycle on Alexis Road where the Peppermint Hippo is located. According to Toledo Municipal Court records, surveillance video from the Peppermint Hippo shows Pegler consuming at least five shots and two beers between midnight and 2:40am. According to a warrant filed in court, there is a witness that confirmed Pegler “was at Bar 145, Wheelin on the Rocks and the Peppermint Hippo leading up to the fatal accident.” The video also states video evidence corroborates the witness statement and shows “defendant unable to park in marked lanes, stumbling as he walks to his vehicle just minutes before the accident and falling out of his driver seat as he attempts to get into his truck just minutes before the fatal accident.
A Lucas County Grand Jury indicted Pegler on two counts of aggravated vehicular homicide, two counts of failure to stop after an accident and one count of operating a vehicle under the influence. According to a police report Pegler hit the rear of Reinhart’s bicycle and then drove “several yards down the street” with him “lodged underneath” his vehicle. Another driver passing by struck the edge of mangled bike while attempting to swerve around the debris. The other driver saw Reinhart lying on the curb and called emergency services. Reinhart was taken to the hospital where he later died from his injuries. Pegler has a prior OVI conviction from 2021, and two prior lesser convictions amended from OVIS, as well as a warrant in Michigan in 2023 for crashing his vehicle into a home and injuring two people, according to a July 10 filing by assistant Lucas County Prosecuting Attorney Jessica Worley.
The Peppermint Hippo was also mentioned in the April 2022 criminal case where Nicholas Luderman caused a six-vehicle crash on I-75 in Wood County, killing Andrew Jones, 19, of Findlay and Kassidy Krzykwa, 23, of Kalamazoo, MI and seriously injuring several others. Luderman was later convicted and sentenced to 25 years in prison. Jones estate filed a civil lawsuit against the Peppermint Hippo and other establishments in April of 2024, claiming their bartender’s overserved alcohol to Luderman before he caused the crash.
Toledo City Council member Theresa Morris, who represents district 6 where the Peppermint Hippo operates, said bar owners need to hold their staff accountable “A bartender has an important job to make a judgement, not to overserve someone,” “When bar owners hire bartenders, they have an important job to do too. Because they’re opening themselves up to liability,” Morris said. 11 Investigates asked the Peppermint Hippo for comment twice on the Pegler investigation and they declined both times. In response to the wrongful death lawsuit from Jones estate, the establishment denied the claims and said that the crash in which the two victims were killed was outside of it’s control.
The situation surrounding the Peppermint Hippo serves as a crucial reminder of the responsibilities that come with alcohol service. As investigations continue, it is essential for both the legal system and the community to reflect on the implications of these cases. Establishments must recognize their role in promoting safe drinking practices, and patrons must be held accountable for their actions once they leave these establishments. Ultimately, the Peppermint Hippo saga underscores the pressing need for collective responsibility in preventing drunk driving and promoting public safety. As Toledo grapples with the consequences of these tragic events, it is imperative that both individuals and establishments commit to fostering a culture of accountability and care for the community at large.
Sources: WTOL11
Original Article is by WTOL11 Author Melissa Andrews and Silas Tsang WTOL11