A 10-year-old boy involved in a near-drowning during a private party at a Harmony Twp. facility continues to improve at an area hospital. Meantime, the Clark County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the business. Here are the key facts in the story so far:
- Emir Roblero, 10, remains in a Columbus hospital
- Adults rescued him Sunday afternoon
- The business had been investigated for operating illegal pool
- Clark County health district officials decline comment
UPDATE @ 6:14 p.m.: A Harmony Twp. business that was the site of a near-drowning Sunday was previously under investigation for operating their business with an illegal pool.
Authorities are looking into the legality of the pool where 10-year-old Emir Roblero, now improving in a hospital, almost died, Clark County Sheriff Gene Kelly said.
The Clark County Combined Health District warned the business, Katmandu, 9027 E. National Road, in July 2015 that it was operating its party-rental space with a pool without proper pool licenses, according to county records the Springfield News-Sun obtained Tuesday.
Health district officials ordered Eric Johnson, owner of the business, to cease operating his pool as a commercial business, according to the documents, because they did not have a public swimming pool license at the property.
In late July, Johnson told health district officials he would stop business at the pool and the investigation was closed in November 2015 after the owners confirmed they were not selling any pool memberships, records show.
The owners of the business have not returned calls for comment.
Health district officials declined comment on any ongoing investigation of the business.
Daniel Evans Jr., a Springfield resident who rented the facility for his family’s weekend party where the tragedy happened is upset the business was still advertising a pool if they were not supposed to.
“I wouldn’t have thought to check into their background because I’d heard so many good things about the place,” said Evans, who rented the space that included the pool for Sunday.
Emir was rescued from the pool and flown to Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, according to a Clark County Sheriff’s Office report.
A handful of adults at the party knew CPR and first aid and immediately jumped into action when Emir was removed from the pool, Evans said.
“In some ways I thank God it was our family” there, he said.
He said any adult, but especially parents, should look into earning CPR certification.
Monday afternoon, the following message was posted to the business’s Facebook page:
“We are deeply saddened and concerned over the accident of Sunday afternoon. Please join us in prayer for the 10 year old boy and his family as he recovers.This event reminds us that even during a happy occasion or celebration, things can change with the blink of an eye. We are grateful for the quick thinking of those who stepped into action and for the responsiveness and compassion from the Harmony Township EMS and sheriff’s office.”
According to the Katmandu website, the business is still advertising the pool as part of the rental.
Katmandu also bought ad space in the program for last weekend’s Northeastern High School musical, an ad that points out the venue’s “indoor pool house.”
Even if the business were to apply for a license, the construction of the pool is also not appropriate for public swimming pool zoning, according to the health district records.
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