Drug House Shut Down By Local Leaders

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - City leaders have teamed up to tackle one crime ridden area in downtown Memphis.

The District attorney’s office and Memphis Mayor A C Wharton announced that the two local government agencies have created the Environmental team aka the E-Team.

The E-team is hitting the Alabama Avenue area near downtown to decrease crime and code violations that are plaguing the neighborhood.

The D.A.s office filed a public nuisance action on Monday against the owner of the property located at 692 Alabama. The Memphis Police Department boarded up the property, which operated as a drug house.

Over the past 12 months, Memphis police officers have been called to 692 Alabama dozens of times for complaints of drug sales, forcible rapes, vandalism, auto thefts, thefts from motor vehicles, and a kidnapping.

The Memphis Police Departments Organized Crime Unit conducted a two-month undercover investigation at the property, during which time informants purchased crack cocaine on several occasions.

Also on Tuesday, the Memphis Fire Department, City Code Enforcement, County Code Enforcement, and other local agencies issued several citations for code violations.

The Memphis Police Department has made numerous arrests on Alabama Avenue including 16 drug-related indictments.