City Pushes To Close 'Worst Of The Worst' Motel 8.1.11

WRTV

INDIANAPOLIS -- Indianapolis leaders are making a renewed push to shut down a south side motel that they’ve deemed the worst of the worst.
Last month, the city filed suit against Sean Bruske and Reuse America, Inc., who run the Traveler's Inn at 602 E. Thompson Road, claiming the motel is a public nuisance and uses too many police resources.
The city claims that since July 2008, police have responded to more than 1,200 runs at the motel and that more than 2,200 officers investigated criminal, public safety and nuisance complaints at the motel.
In the month of June alone, records show police responded to 28 trouble calls there.
"What this shows is narcotics, strangulation, domestic violence, disturbances, several warrants, narcotics,” said City Prosecutor Helen Marchal.
The motel’s management contacted 6News' Jack Rinehart, saying they wanted to tell their side of the story. They said they would give Rinehart a tour Monday, but then backed out. Guests at the motel told 6News there is no soap in the showers, no water in the pool and seemingly no interest by management to fix what is broken.
"They don't have the correct staff and maintenance to handle their situation, let alone every other room you walk by downstairs is empty and torn up," one guest said.
The city also said the motel doesn't have a proper business license. Indianapolis hopes to get an injunction, fines and punitive damages in the lawsuit.
"We have nearly two years of proof that the owners can't handle this type of business,” Marchal said. “They have been irresponsible, inattentive and the cost of running this business are being passed along to the taxpayer."
http://www.theindychannel.com/news/28732325/detail.html