On Thursday, May 19, Macon-Bibb County filed suit in Superior Court against the owners, agents, and corporations of the America’s Best Value Inn and Suites (4951 Romeiser Drive) due to the amount of criminal activity, emergency calls, and other reports there. This suit follows similar ones filed against the Bridgeview Inn and Suites (6000 Harrison Road) and Red Carpet Inn (2690 Riverside Drive).
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 is the third hotel to have a suit brought against it due to the amount of criminal activity occurring on or around its property.
“We have the legal tools to take action against people who are providing a location and environment where illegal activity can take place and flourish,” says Mayor Lester Miller. “We cannot sit idly by and let this type of activity to continue. It is a drain on our resources, and it is a drain on our community.”
From March 2016 to February 2022, EMS, Fire Department, and Sheriff’s Office received more than 500 emergency calls to America’s Best Value Inn and Suites. This includes armed robberies, shootings, illegal drug activity, sex crimes, and other illicit activity. Nearly two dozen 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 10, 2017, and April 27, 2022, there were 146 calls reporting a suspected overdose. This amounts to an average of almost three overdose calls per month to just one of the ambulance providers that serve 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.
This is not the first time America’s Best Value Inn and Suites has had similar action brought against it. In March 2020, similar action was requested. Beginning on December 31, 2020, regular inspections were to begin to ensure certain measures were taken to improve security and conditions. While those measures and inspections were meant to alleviate these conditions, they remained pervasive. More than 150 of the 500 emergency calls studied for this suit above were placed after the issuance of the original consent order.
“It’s clear to us the business model used here is one that depends on people who have committed and continue to commit crimes, thus threatening our public safety,” adds Mayor Miller.
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.