MEMPHIS, TN – Shelby County District Attorney Bill Gibbons and Memphis Police Director Larry Godwin announced Thursday that four area motels had been closed for business by court order following an undercover investigation. The District Attorney’s Office filed nuisance petitions against the owners of 78 Motel, located at 3896 Lamar Avenue; Scottish Inn, located at 4000 Lamar Avenue; Iris Motel, located at 1950 Elvis Presley Boulevard; and Summer Motel, located at 3025 Summer Avenue.
Environmental Court Judge Larry Potter issued temporary injunctions to immediately close the four properties and ordered the owners to court at 10:30 a.m. on August 12 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.
This undercover investigation was part of the department’s Blue CRUSH™ initiative and focused primarily on prostitution, but police have been called to the motels targeted hundreds of times for reports of robberies, assaults, and thefts. Additionally, the July 1, 2008 homicide of Rodney White is related to the prostitution-trade at the 78 Motel, which was the site of Thursday’s announcement.
According to the petitions, the following has occurred at the four motels against which new nuisance actions have been filed:
78 Motel – Between May 2007 and May 2008, Memphis police officers responded to incidents at the motel, which sits between two daycare facilities, 106 times. These various calls included prostitution, shootings, robberies, assaults, and thefts. The petition says prostitution runs rampant at 78 Motel and is done so in an open manner highly visible from the front parking lot and motel entrance. Based on the undercover investigation, 78 Motel is perhaps the most active prostitution location in the city of Memphis, with an average of 10 to 20 prostitutes on the property each night. The petition alleges that the management at 78 Motel has failed to take measures to address the problem, and instead the motel has profited from the business associated with the prostitution trade occurring at, on and near the premises.
Summer Motel – Between April 2007 and April 2008, Memphis police officers responded to calls at Summer Motel 31 times for various reports of prostitution, robberies, assaults, and thefts. Since January 2007, officers have made 20 arrests for prostitution on the property. The petition alleges that management is aware of the problem, and undercover detectives have even rented rooms by the hour and purchased condoms from the front desk clerk.
Scottish Inn – Between May 2007 and May 2008, Memphis police officers have responded to Scottish Inn 81 times for various reports of prostitution, assaults and thefts. Between January 2007 and June 2008, officers made 105 arrests for prostitution at the motel, its parking lot and the immediately adjacent property. During the course of the investigation, officers observed prostitutes in front of Scottish Inn and in the parking lot flagging down customers from their cars and their rooms. The petition alleges the prostitution-trade is rampant and the management has failed to take measures to stop it. The investigation revealed the reputation of this motel is so notorious it is featured on an internet site created for individuals looking for prostitutes.
Iris Motel – Between May 2007 and May 2008, Memphis police officers responded to 29 calls at Iris Motel for various crimes including prostitution, robberies, assaults, drug sales, and thefts. Since April 2007, officers have made 32 arrests for prostitution at the motel, its parking lot and the adjacent property. Surveillance conducted during the investigation revealed that prostitutes operate freely on the premises, and it is customary to see anywhere between two and six prostitutes operating the area at any given time. The petition alleges that prostitution is rampant, open and routine; the management is aware of the problem; and, in fact, during one prostitution sting, the Iris Motel’s front desk clerk directed an undercover officer to a prostitute. The petition notes that the rooms are in general disrepair and may have no locks on the doors.
“Time and time again the police are being called to these motels, and many of the calls are related to violent crimes. We are not going to let property owners or managers who condone prostitution, drug sales or other illegal activity bring down our neighborhoods. Owners and managers of such properties need to understand they will be held accountable,” said District Attorney Gibbons.
“There is no place in the City of Memphis for businesses that are condoning illegal activities on their premises. Business owners should be on alert that people want to live peaceful and do not want to see the crime in their neighborhood. The Memphis Police Department will continue to address the issue of prostitution, illegal drugs and overall crime to make our city safer for our citizens and visitors,” 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. |