Quiet by day, ravaged by crime at night, a Clark County motel has drawn the ire of Sheriff Gene Kelly. The Drake Motel, A Springfield Township icon for decades, along Route 40 east of downtown Springfield, has had problems in the past, but nothing like what Kelly has seen in recent weeks.
"We have had deaths here. We've had robberies. We've had prostitution. We've had wanted fugitives staying at this motel," Kelly said.
The deaths have been from drug overdoses, although recently three other people who suffered a heroin overdose there were literally brought back to life by sheriff's deputies using NARCAN.
Despite efforts to crack down on criminal activity at the hotel, Kelly said it has continued because managers of the property have refused to cooperate.
"It has been just an infestation of criminal conduct," Kelly said.
The motel owner, Mike Patel, told the I-Team people bring drugs and other problems to the property and he does his best to keep a clean and safe establishment. Even though he has received no complaints from neighbors, Patel recently contacted the sheriff and asked for a meeting to discuss possible solutions.
"Definitely, no doubt about it, but nobody has contacted me," Patel said.
The sheriff said he takes the situation as a personal affront because the motel is directly across the street from his East District office. He said even though deputies drive by the red brick motel, built in 1952, the drug dealing and other criminal activity continues.
What can be done? Our I-team investigation found other communities have used special city ordinances to shut down problem hotels. Columbus, for example, shuttered 12 hotels on the capitol city's north side after they became a serious drain on police and fire resources. Assistant City Attorney Bill Sperlazza said the city began its crackdown by requiring all hotels to have a special city license to operate. Refusal to cooperate with public safety authorities led to suspension of the license and near- immediate shutdown.
"Prostitution, drug dealing and the violence that comes with criminal activity," said Sperlazza.
All of those factors prompted the city to ramp up legal action against problem properties. Several still sit boarded up, but already neighbors have noticed an improved atmosphere.
"It's a spectacular idea," Gabriel Dean said.
Dean lives near I-71 and Route 161 on Columbus's north side. He and others are glad the city stepped in and used licensing to gain leverage.
If Clark County wanted to try a similar licensing scheme, it may have to get permission from state lawmakers. Currently, townships do not have the same kind of lawmaking powers as cities.
