Date: March 26, 2002
Contact:
Renee Hoffman
CCPS Public Affairs Director
(919) 733-5027
(ext. 231)
| For Release: Immediate
Date: March 26, 2002 |
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Contact:
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CITY OF RALEIGH FILES LAWSUIT
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RALEIGH-The City of Raleigh filed a lawsuit today against the property owners of a boarding house at 11 Star Street in Raleigh alleging the property constitutes a public nuisance. The owners of the property are C. Ray Evans and Sylvester L. Joyner. The filing is the first step in a civil nuisance abatement case brought by the City of Raleigh on behalf of the State of North Carolina.
"The City of Raleigh is filing this suit in an effort to be responsive to citizen complaints," said Raleigh City Manager J. Russell Allen. "Neighbors say violent and disruptive incidents in the neighborhood have been constant because of the criminal element at this property. The neighbors don't feel safe, and they shouldn't have to live in that environment."
The Raleigh Police Department has responded to a number of calls for service at 11 Star Street including discharging of firearms, assaults, fights, and domestic disturbances. Additionally, the police department has made a number of drug seizures from this location.
"The city is trying to be responsive to neighbors' complaints and solve this problem permanently," stated Chief Jane Perlov of the Raleigh Police Department. "In order for local law enforcement to fight crime effectively, we need many different tools. A nuisance action is a powerful tool we can use to eliminate problem establishments in Raleigh when traditional law enforcement methods have failed."
"The City of Raleigh has tried to work with the property owners to solve these problems; however, our efforts have been unsuccessful," said City Attorney Tom McCormick. "This action is a last resort for us."
The lawsuit was prepared by the Raleigh City Attorney's Office, the Raleigh Police Department, and the N.C. Alcohol Law Enforcement Division's (A.L.E.) Nuisance Abatement Team.
"I commend Raleigh for taking this bold step to stop crime," stated Bryan Beatty, secretary of the Department of Crime Control & Public Safety. A.L.E. is a division of the Department. "We are committed to assisting local communities with crime problems in their neighborhoods. I am delighted that we can work closely with communities such as Raleigh to provide permanent solutions to long term problems at properties which are alleged to be havens for criminal activity."
Since its inception in 1994, A.L.E.'s Nuisance Abatement Team has assisted local communities in addressing nuisances at more than 480 properties across the state. The Team is currently investigating about 30-40 locations across North Carolina.
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