![]() ![]() The owners, Kaushik Patel and Thakorbhai P. “We would immediately check the parking lot at the Relax Inn to see if those folks were there,” Lowe said. Investigators learned to head to the motel when they were looking for suspects or trying to serve arrest warrants on parole or probation violators. “It was a natural meeting place, if you will.” “We would see folks familiar to us from our investigations there frequently,” he said. Lowe, who worked in the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s narcotics division until he became the Lancaster-based commander of the multicounty Major Crimes Unit in July, said he and other investigators have long been familiar with the Relax Inn. Lancaster police have logged 210 runs responding to incidents at the 60-room motel between January 2014 and October 2015, the complaint says. The complaint documents a pattern of criminal activity at the motel from at least 2011, including court records of people convicted of trafficking heroin and cocaine, and of manufacturing methamphetamine, from its rooms. “This is definitely a last-resort measure, when you can’t get a business to comply,” said Stephanie Hall, an assistant city prosecutor. The complaint filed in November against the owners of the Relax Inn at 1327 River Valley Blvd., adjacent to the River Valley Mall in Lancaster, seeks a court order declaring the motel a public nuisance and authorizing the city police chief to close it down for one year. Now county and city prosecutors are in county Common Pleas Court seeking an order to shut down the motel.Ĭourt cases such as this are common in Columbus, where prosecutors have shut down, and even demolished, crime-infested lodgings.īut this is so rare in Lancaster that no one from either county Prosecutor Gregg Marx’s office or city Prosecutor Randall Ullom’s office could remember another time authorities went to court to shutter a problem motel. The Relax Inn is known by some of locals as the “Relapse Inn,” said Dennis Lowe, commander of the Major Crimes Unit serving Fairfield, Hocking and Athens counties, because it has earned a reputation as a haven for drug trafficking and other felony crimes. Room 133 was strewn with syringes and other drug paraphernalia. It’s the first such case here but an approach commonly used with problem lodgings in Columbus.Ĭourt records do not show the Relax Inn in a favorable light: Crack dealers set up shop in rooms 134 and 102, and room 132 held a working methamphetamine lab. Contactless check-out is available.LANCASTER, Ohio - Fairfield County and Lancaster city prosecutors are trying to shut down a local motel they say is a haven for crime. Social distancing measures are in place staff at the property wear personal protective equipment guests are provided with hand sanitizer cashless payment methods are available for all transactions masks are required in public areas. Disinfectant is used to clean the property commonly-touched surfaces are cleaned with disinfectant between stays bed sheets and towels are laundered at a temperature of at least 60☌/140☏. Cash is not accepted. This property advises that enhanced cleaning and guest safety measures are currently in place. This property accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business, or profession. This property is managed by a professional host. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges. Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. No rollaway or extra beds are available.Ĭharges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.Ī cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.Social distancing measures are in place staff at the property wear personal protective equipment guests are provided with hand sanitizer cashless payment methods are available for all transactions masks are required in public areas.Disinfectant is used to clean the property commonly-touched surfaces are cleaned with disinfectant between stays bed sheets and towels are laundered at a temperature of at least 60☌/140☏. ![]() This property advises that enhanced cleaning and guest safety measures are currently in place.Certain requests may come with additional charges. Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in and can't be guaranteed.A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges, as well as a government-issued photo ID, may be required at check-in.Charges for extra guests may apply and vary depending on the property's policy.This property is managed by a professional host.Details about charges, deposits, or other important information:Īdditional information about polices, regulations, and more:
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