‘Notorious’ Residence in Nutbush Closed as Public Nuisance

July 23, 2022 – A residence in the Nutbush area of northeast Memphis described by neighbors as “notorious and dangerous” was closed Friday as a public nuisance because of narcotics trafficking and violent crime, including two homicides, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.

Neighbors told the Memphis Police Department’s Organized Crime Unit that the home at 1673 National St. is “a known crack house” where cocaine, crystal methamphetamine and fentanyl was bought and sold.

On Friday Environmental Court Judge Patrick Dandridge (General Sessions Division 14) granted a temporary injunction petition filed by the District Attorney’s Office and the Memphis City Attorney’s Office.

A hearing is set for 10 a.m. on July 28 for the owners to show why the injunction should not be made permanent.

A resident of the home, Betty Pratt, aka Betty Davis, and the property’s owner, Marbella Investment, LLC, are listed as respondents in the petition.

Between February 2020 and June 2022 police have taken 15 reports at the residence for assaults, vandalism, overdoses and narcotics-related incidents. There also have been two homicides at the location.

Police have responded to 229 calls for service during that period within a half mile of 1673 National.

In May of this year, police said girl was playing with a dog outside the residence when a man walking by shot the dog, killing it, and then continued walking.

The residence is located less than a mile from three churches and Douglas High School.

The case filed by DA Weirich and City Atty. Jennifer Sink is being prosecuted by Asst. Dist. Atty. Paul Hagerman and by Asst. City Prosecutor William L. Gibbons Jr.