By Elisabeth Strillacci

A home on Sides Road that has been the location not only of multiple drug arrests but of overdoses and violent behavior is now the subject of a nuisance abatement order which will result in the sale of the property.

The criminal activity, and the community complaints, drove Rowan County Sheriff Travis Allen to work with the North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement Division’s Nuisance Abatement Team to file a civil nuisance abatement action for the property located at 660 Sides Road, Salisbury.

RCSO had recently made multiple drug offense arrests at the property in the last month, and a resident there suffered a gunshot that grazed his head, allegedly in a dispute. Last July an 11-month old baby nearly died in an overdose case. The mother told police she made the baby a bottle using water she had taken from the baby’s father’s truck, and police found drug residue, uncapped syringes and drug paraphernalia. Both parents admitted to police they had injected themselves with fentanyl before falling asleep with the child between them. The child at some point went into cardiac arrest and paramedics treated the infant with Narcan before taking the baby to hospital. Fortunately, the child recovered.

Neighbors have expressed concern for months, and Allen said he and his department believed a civil nuisance abatement investigation was more than merited. The case was brought by Rowan County on behalf of the state.

As a result, Superior Court Judge Penn Broyhill signed a Nuisance Abatement Consent Judgment and final order of abatement.

Chapter 19 of the North Carolina General Statutes defines nuisance activities as including, in part, crimes involving drug laws, recurring violence and breaches of the peace. Furthermore, it provides for a civil remedy to abate such criminal acts and their detrimental impacts on the community.

The terms of the consent judgment called for the property to become and to remain vacant, and to be put up for sale within 30 days. The judgment also includes an agreement on the future intended use of the property, which forbids future nuisance-related activities on the property.

In addition, any and all trespassers on the property are subject to arrest and criminal charges.

“I appreciate the cooperation from the property owner and community members as we continue working together in Rowan County to ensure our communities and citizens are safe,” said Allen. “I hope this successful resolution assists with restoring peace to this community.”