The Baltimore liquor board suspended the license this week of a Brooklyn bar — the site of a fatal beating over a pool game in May — for nine months.

The license holders for Ravens House in the 3700 block of S. Hanover St. were found guilty Thursday of several violations during the hearing, including running an establishment that is a threat to peace and safety of the community. A neighborhood organization petitioned the board to have the bar's license revoked after the attack, sparking the hearing.

In May, police were called to Ravens House for a disturbance and found a man lying in the bushes, bleeding from the head. Co-owner Zeke Conover said at the time that the man was struck in the face with a pool stick during an argument and that the fight moved outside. The victim was taken to an area hospital and died about 30 minutes later.

A year ago, Conover had agreed to sell his liquor license after neighborhood residents complained of noise and trash problems outside the bar. Conover was given a nine-month deadline but failed to sell the bar within that time.

His attorney said during Thursday's hearing that his client couldn't get fair value for the license and bar because of a down market. Before the attack, residents had agreed to allow Conover more time to sell the license, liquor board Chairman Stephan Fogleman said.

But the board's decision on Thursday effectively closes the bar until April 30, and it is unlikely that the liquor commissioners would grant Conover a renewal.

Fogleman said Concerned Citizens for a Better Brooklyn first approached the liquor board about this bar in 1992.

"For 19 years, this community has battled with this," Fogleman said.

Two city police officers testified during Thursday's hearing that the place serves as a haven for drug activity and that known criminals frequently hang out in front of the bar.

"The board made an impartial decision based on the testimony of our partners in law enforcement," said commissioner Elizabeth C. Smith. "The residents of Brooklyn deserve our support and have earned relief from this negligent owner."

brent.jones@baltsun.com