MEMPHIS, TN – Shelby County District Attorney Bill Gibbons, Memphis Police Director Larry Godwin, and David McGriff, director of the West Tennessee Violent Crime and Drug Task Force, announced that four area motels had been closed for business by court order following a coordinated undercover investigation, “Operation Heartbreak Hotel.” On Monday, the District Attorney’s Office filed nuisance petitions against the owners of The Bellevue Inn, located at 1250 South Bellevue; The Lamplighter Motor Inn, located at 667 South Bellevue; The Royal Inn & Suites, located at 3685 American Way; and The Garden Inn & Suites, located at 3419 American Way. Environmental Court Judge Larry Potter issued temporary injunctions to immediately close the properties. The owners of the properties have been ordered to court on Friday, February 15 to respond to the nuisance petitions.
After officers closed the properties, inspectors with the Memphis Fire Department, Shelby County Code Enforcement, and the Memphis/Shelby County Health Department surveyed the properties for possible code violations. Inspectors issued numerous citations.
“Operation Heartbreak Hotel” focused on drug sales, drug use and prostitution at the four motels. The Memphis police investigation was part of the department’s Blue CRUSH™ initiative. During the investigation, on January 25, 2007, a Memphis police officer was shot while executing a search warrant at the Garden Inn & Suites. Police charged Albert Taylor, 35, with four counts of attempted second degree murder, aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a controlled substance (crack cocaine), and employment of a weapon.
In addition, the D.A.’s Office has filed contempt petitions against the owners and managers of three motels previously subjects of nuisance actions. Judge Potter is expected to hear these matters on Friday, as well. All three had entered consent orders under which they were to take certain steps to avoid illegal activity. Those motels include the Bellevue Inn, also the subject of a new nuisance action; The Deluxe Inn & Suites, located at 3456 Lamar; and Casey’s Motel, located at 1585 Elvis Presley Boulevard.
According to the petitions, the following has occurred at the four motels against which new nuisance actions have been filed:
• Bellevue Inn – During undercover investigations by both the Drug Task Force and the Memphis Police Department dating back to November 7, 2007, undercover officers posing as prostitutes and clients rented rooms on an hourly basis on numerous occasions and were not asked for identification. Additionally, police have made at least six arrests for prostitution on the property since the start of the investigation. Based on the undercover investigation, the petition alleges that the management at the Bellevue Inn aids, abets and promotes prostitution by charging prostitutes a fee for every “trick” they turn, selling condoms at the front desk, and agreeing to warn prostitutes when police are on the lot.
• Garden Inn & Suites – Since January 26, 2007, Memphis police has responded to more than 89 complaints of criminal activity at the Garden Inn, including robberies, shootings, underage prostitution, and drug sales. At least 18 arrests for prostitution have been made at the property over the past twelve months. Additionally, undercover officers with the MPD’s Organized Crime Unit purchased crack cocaine from guests at the Garden Inn 13 times since January 24, 2008 and an officer and another individual were shot during the execution of a search warrant at the motel on January 25.
• Lamplighter Motor Inn – Memphis police began an eight-month investigation into illegal activities occurring at the Lamplighter in July 2007. During that time, police have been called to the Lamplighter at least 44 times for complaints of prostitution, drug sales, robberies, and even a homicide. Since December 3, 2007, undercover officers or confidential informants have made numerous purchases of crack cocaine from individuals inside the Lamplighter and actually observed the cooking of crack cocaine on a hot plate in one of the rooms. On January 5, 2008, police executed a search warrant at the motel and arrested Shawn Owens and Paul Drayton after allegedly finding them with 13 rocks of crack cocaine, powder cocaine, and a gun. Both individuals were charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell.
• Royal Inn & Suites – Memphis police organized crime officers or confidential informants purchased crack cocaine from individuals inside the Royal Inn 14 times since January 3, 2008. During the execution of a search warrant at the motel, police questioned a customer who told them that the motel manager would notify dealers when police are on the premises. Additionally, officers set up a surveillance video camera over the parking lot in the back of the motel, which is hidden from the front of the street. Officers recorded numerous hand-to-hand exchanges in the part lot indicative of drug sales and open prostitution activity. Police say this is one of the worst open-air drug and prostitution markets in the entire city.
“Business owners should be put on notice. They cannot allow and encourage illegal activity like drug sales and prostitution to occur on their properties without consequences. The community is sick of it, and we are going to use our state laws to hold them accountable,” said District Attorney Gibbons.
“We are not going to tolerate businesses that allow crime to dwell and destroy our communities. Citizens should not have to endure the drug dealing, prostitution and other criminal activities in areas where they live, attend schools or churches, and raise their families,” said Director Godwin.
As a result of undercover investigations by the Memphis Police Department since the start of Operation Blue CRUSH™, the D.A.’s Office has filed nuisance actions against the owners of more than 100 properties.
Tennessee law states that the District Attorney General has authority to bring a civil action against any establishment deemed a nuisance. The statute defines a nuisance, in part, as “any place in or upon which… unlawful sale of any regulated legend drug, narcotic or other controlled substance…quarrelling, drunkenness, fighting, or breaches of the peace are carried on or permitted.”
The District Attorney’s Office, working with investigations by the Memphis Police Department and as part of Operation Blue CRUSH™, has filed nuisance petitions against the owners of numerous properties—both residential and businesses—under the Tennessee nuisance law. Some nuisance actions have resulted in permanent closure of the properties. Others have reopened under consent orders to alleviate the nuisance. |