On Wednesday, May 25, Macon-Bibb County filed suit in Superior Court against the owners, agents, and corporations of the Macon Inn (1044 Riverside Drive) due to the amount of criminal activity, emergency calls, and other reports there. The County is bringing this action to permanently enjoin, restrain, and abate the public nuisance that has existed and continues to be maintained at this location. This suit follows similar ones filed against the Bridgeview Inn and Suites (6000 Harrison Road), Red Carpet Inn (2690 Riverside Drive), and America’s Best Value Inn and Suites (4951 Romeiser Drive).
“Our community has said loud and clear that public safety is its top priority, and we have made it clear we will not tolerate businesses allowing criminal activity to occur,” says Mayor Lester Miller.
From March 2016 to February 2022, EMS, Fire Department, and Sheriff’s Office received more than 450 emergency calls to the Macon Inn. This includes drug crimes, aggravated assaults, weapons offenses, robbery, rape, and other illicit activity. More than 20 of these cases are detailed in the suit. Information was provided by law enforcement, code enforcement, and other complaints.
Records produced by just one ambulance provider showed that between December 20, 2017, and May 4, 2022, there were 375 calls reporting a suspected overdose. This amounts to a five-year average of more than seven overdose calls per month to just one of the ambulance providers that serves this location.
The amount of activity at this location has led the Sheriff’s Office to increase regular patrols on and around the property, meaning they and the State of Georgia devote substantial public resources, attention, patrols, time, and undercover operations there.
Macon-Bibb County is asking the Court for the following relief:
- that this matter be scheduled for a hearing before in Superior Court;
- that the property be declared a public nuisance;
- that the Court temporarily and permanently enjoin and restrain Defendants from continuing to maintain this nuisance;
- that the Court award judgment in favor of Plaintiff and against Defendants for the requested equitable and declaratory relief sought in the Complaint; and
- that Plaintiff have such other and further relief as this Court deems just and equitable.
Georgia law provides that “any nuisance which tends to the immediate annoyance of the public in general, is manifestly injurious to the public health or safety, or tends greatly to corrupt the manners and morals of the public may be abated by the order of a judge of the superior court of the county in which venue is proper.” O.C.G.A. § 41-2-1.