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JOHNSTON COUNTY -- Superior Court Judge Knox V. Jenkins, Jr., issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) today against property located at 1000 S. Lombard Street, Clayton, in Johnston County. The temporary restraining order prohibits any illegal activity from occurring on the property until a preliminary injunction hearing is held. The defendant in the suit is Joel Williams.
The TRO is the first step in a civil nuisance abatement case brought by Johnston County District Attorney Thomas H. Lock on behalf of the State of North Carolina.
Information for the lawsuit was coordinated by a member of Alcohol Law Enforcement's (A.L.E.) Nuisance Abatement Team at the request of Chief Gary W. Ragland of the Clayton Police Department. Officers with the Clayton Police Department researched police records concerning this property and provided the information to the Nuisance Abatement Team.
"The property has a reputation as a location for prostitution, gambling, illegal drug and alcohol activity, and breaches of the peace," said Chief Ragland. "Hopefully, this lawsuit will put an end to the problems and bring peace to that neighborhood."?
Among the crimes that have occurred on the property was a murder that took place in September of the year 2000.
"I commend the Town of Clayton for taking this bold step to stop crime," stated Bryan Beatty, secretary of the Department of Crime Control & Public Safety (CC&PS). A.L.E. is a division of CC&PS. "My Department is committed to assisting local communities with crime problems in their neighborhoods. I am delighted that we can work closely with communities 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 502 properties across the state. The Team is currently investigating about 20-30 locations across North Carolina.
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EDITOR'S NOTE: For more information, call Asst. Supervisor Ron Gilliard in ALE's Tarboro office at 252-823-1442.
