For Release: Immediate 
Date: April 27, 2001		 NC CCPS Logo
Contact: Sara Kempin
Phone: (919) 733-5027 (ext.233)

JUDGE ISSUES TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER AGAINST HERITAGE INN MOTEL

GASTONIA--Superior Court Judge Richard Boner issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) today against the Heritage Inn Motel, located at 6822 Wilkinson Blvd. in Belmont.
The temporary restraining order prohibits any illegal activity from occurring on the property until a preliminary injunction hearing is held. The defendants in the suit are Ashokkumar C. Patel and his wife, Bhartia A. Patel.
The TRO is the first step in a civil nuisance abatement case brought by Gaston County District Attorney Michael Lands on behalf of the State of North Carolina.
"This action shows what can happen when agencies work together," said Lands. "I would like to thank ALE and the Belmont Police Department for working with us in this matter."
Information for the lawsuit was coordinated by a member of Alcohol Law Enforcement's (A.L.E.) Nuisance Abatement Team at the request of Belmont Police Chief Benny Cook, Jr. Officers with the Police Department researched police records concerning this establishment and provided the information to the Nuisance Abatement Team.
The property has a reputation as a location for drug deals, prostitution, assaults, domestic disturbances, and other breaches of the peace. "Hopefully, this will be a permanent solution and will bring peace to that neighborhood," stated Cook. "Nuisance abatement seems like a very powerful tool, and I am excited about putting it to work in Belmont."
"The Nuisance Abatement Law provides a tool that local communities can use to stop nuisances at places like these for good," stated John D. Smith, III, A.L.E. director. "There is no reason for a nuisance like this to terrorize a community. The nuisance lawsuit will allow us to solve the problem once and for all, and hopefully give Belmont residents some peace."
Since its inception in 1994, A.L.E.'s Nuisance Abatement Team has assisted more than 100 police departments, 44 sheriffs, and 19 city, county and district attorneys to investigate over 400 nuisances. These properties were previously the source of more than 13,000 reported criminal acts, including murder, assaults, drug dealing, repeated gunfire and other acts of violence. Additionally, the team provided information and technical assistance to citizens and local governments in 110 cases, and currently has 38 investigations pending.
The Nuisance Abatement Team was created by the Special Crime Session of the General Assembly to address the growing concern among North Carolinians about crime and to help guarantee all citizens a right to be safe in their homes and neighborhoods. The agents target properties that are a haven for crimes, criminals and violence in communities throughout North Carolina.

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