Springfield bar owner accused of shooting at patron

SPRINGFIELD — An owner of a Springfield bar is accused of illegally firing a shot at a patron Tuesday morning.

Daniel Romine, 67, is charged in Clark County Municipal Court with felonious assault and illegal possession of firearm in liquor permit premises. He pleaded not guilty and his bond was set at $15,000.

Springfield police began their investigation Tuesday morning at around 1:30 a.m. when they were called to Whities Tavern at 1070 Warder Street. When they arrived, according to an affidavit filed with the charges, they met a man who said a man had just shot at him.

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Officers tried to go into the bar but had to knock multiple times before they were allowed to enter, the affidavit says.

“This time a male opened the front door, and officers asked to see his hands and asked him if he had any weapons on him at this time,” the affidavit says. “The male, later identified as the owner of Whities Tavern, Daniel Romine, was observed to have a small laceration to his right eyebrow area that had been bleeding as well as a small cut to his right hand. Officers asked him if he was OK, and Mr. Romine admitted to being involved in a fight, according to the affidavit. He also made a spontaneous uttering ‘I took a shot at him.’”

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Authorities found and secured a .38 caliber, 6-shot revolver on the bar, the affidavit says.