COLUMBUS, Ohio – Columbus police put another “nuisance” hotel out of business Wednesday, rolling up the Red Carpet Inn on the Northeast Side, the scene of 600 reports of drug activity, prostitution and violence over the past two years.
The hotel near the I-71 and state Route 161 interchange was padlocked following an Environmental Court judge’s order declaring it a public nuisance. The closing came one day after police shuttered the Columbus Inn and Suites for similar violations.
According to Columbus City Attorney Rick Pfeiffer, there were at least 234 police runs to the hotel in 2012 and 358 in 2013.
The hotel was also the scene of a fatal shooting on May 13, 2012, as well as other shooting incidents, Pfeiffer says.
The State Fire Marshall also found multiple fire code violations during eight different inspections last year, Pfeiffer says.
Several investigations resulted in arrests and convictions for prostitution-related offenses while undercover operations also uncovered evidence of extensive drug dealing, Pfeiffer said.
A COTA bus was on hand to help keep the hotel’s residents warm while Maryhaven and other social service agencies helped them relocate, Pfeiffer said.
The temporary restraining order against the hotel’s owners shuts down the business pending a hearing for preliminary and permanent injunction on Jan. 29.