Superior Creek Lodge got more time Monday to prepare for East Ridge’s bid to declare the extended-stay hotel a nuisance and padlock it, but police say its residents did not get a break from crime.
East Ridge police on Monday issued warrants for a father and son wanted in the most recently reported incident at the lodge on Mack Smith Road.
Jimmy Conley, 44, of Chatsworth, Ga., and James A. Conley, 18, of Gainesville, Ga., are sought on charges of assault in connection with man found bloodied in a hotel elevator.
Meanwhile in Hamilton County Criminal Court, a hearing on East Ridge’s bid to declare the motel a public nuisance and padlock it was put off until Sept. 13.
East Ridge City Attorney John Anderson said Hamilton County Criminal Court Judge Barry Steelman shifted the case to Criminal Court Judge Rebecca Stern, who is out of town until Aug. 30. The following Monday is a holiday, so Sept. 13 was the first available hearing date.
“The goal is to have the public nuisance abated, and the court will make the determination for what the proper process, what the proper action is, for the abatement of that nuisance,” Anderson said.
According to a 300-page court document filed in the nuisance case, East Ridge responders received 2,654 calls for service at the motel between the time the lodge was granted a business license in April 2006 and June 30, 2010 — on average, nearly twice a day.
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Staff Photo by Dan Henry/Chattanooga Times Free Press John R. Anderson, attorney for East Ridge, waits for his chance to speak to Judge Barry Steelman about a case against the Superior Creek Lodge, an extended stay motel in East Ridge, at the Hamilton County Courts building on Monday.
East Ridge Mayor Mike Steele said last week there have been 205 arrests of lodge residents, including 31 made by agencies outside East Ridge, during those four years.
Lodge owner David Gysin, of Kennesaw, Ga., did not return a phone message seeking comment.
Police said the most recent incident at the lodge occurred Saturday night shortly before officers were called at 11:30 p.m. to the motel after a disturbance, according to police spokesman Erik Hopkins.
Hopkins said police found the victim lying in an elevator bleeding from the mouth and nose. The victim, whom police did not identify, was taken to Erlanger hospital where he is in critical condition, he said.
“Upon further investigation officers determined the victim was assaulted by two white male suspects after an altercation over drugs,” Hopkins said.
A warrant on a charge of aggravated assault has been issued for the younger Conley. A warrant on a simple assault charge has been issued for his father, police said.
Anyone with information on the suspects’ whereabouts is asked to call the East Ridge Police Department at 867-3718, Hopkins said.
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A confidential tip line also is available at 867-0016.
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Pam Sohn has been reporting or editing Chattanooga news for 25 years. A Walden’s Ridge native, she began her journalism career with a 10-year stint at the Anniston (Ala.) Star. She came to the Chattanooga Times Free Press in 1999 after working at the Chattanooga Times for 14 years. She has been a city editor, Sunday editor, wire editor, projects team leader and assistant lifestyle editor. As a reporter, she also has covered the police, ...
With all of the stuff that is happening there, they should close it or set up a police and ambulance precinct. However, police presence will not stop the foolishness of the people that cause problems. It's a wonder why there has not been a suicide-by-cop incident at the motel. Perhaps, the subculture gives itself hope in masses.
The city of East Ridge needs to plan on moving (humanely)this group someplace else, and perhaps drafting a new law that prohibits extended stay hotels as such. I cannot see how hotel residents call themselves bonifide city residents if they don't separate utility bills. Utility bills is proof of residence to get a drivers license in the state of Tennessee.
I can almost guarantee that most of the people that live in the motel don't have their drivers licenses updated. Some states require by law to have them updated of face fines and/or suspension. Either-way, motel living is not meant to be month after month after month.
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