The debate has been hot and heavy over public nuisance suits against two area businesses. At one town council meeting, there was a heated public forum. I wrote about the idea of shutting down businesses both in this blog and in my newspaper column. The latest development is that the nuisance lawsuit has been filed, not just threatened. Here is an article on the WMPM web site:
Nuisance Abatement Lawsuit Filed Against Two Selma Stores - Selma town leaders normally work to promote businesses in their town, but there are two exceptions. A nuisance abatement lawsuit has been filed against the Lighthouse Food Mart and Brotherhood Market, seeking to have them permanently closed. Since 2003, police have responded to nearly 200 calls at the businesses, at the corner of Pollock and Noble Streets, many for drug-related offenses. “Both locations have continued to be a place for drugs to be sold, especially in the last 15 years,” Police Chief Charles Bowen told WMPM in December. Many of the incidents, Bowen said have been undercover drug buys in the parking lots of both businesses beside Highway 301. Others have been violent crimes. In December 2005, Alexander Thorne was shot three times while standing outside the Brotherhood Market. In June 2003, Robert Lee Rogers was attacked by a gang of 10 men and beaten with a metal pipe. In December 2003, Mosi Williams was stabbed while talking on the payphone. Chief Bowen presented the surprisingly high number of calls at both businesses to the Selma Town Council during their December meeting, who agreed it was time something needed to be done. The Town of Selma and Johnston County District Attorney’s Office filed the nuisance abatement lawsuit against both stores last week. A date for a court hearing has not been set.
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