Area drug house shut down by city officials

ZANESVILLE, Ohio- An area residence has been closed and boarded up after multiple complaints of drug activity.

A temporary injunction for nuisance abatement at 724 Homewood Avenue was granted by Muskingum County Common Pleas Court Judge Mark Fleegle Wednesday afternoon.

Patrick Ritchey, the homeowner, and his residents were evicted. Police Chief Tony Coury said upon the eviction, they found a total of eight people at the residence.

“This house has been a nuisance to the City of Zanesville and to this neighborhood,” said Coury. “We’ve been here hundreds of times in a couple year span.”

The eviction was a result of a two year investigation conducted by the Zanesville Police Department and the Central Ohio Drug Enforcement Task Force, as well as numerous resident complaints and a petition.

“A multitude of felony violations were going on over here and with the help of the residents in the neighborhood and enough complaints we were just able to finally take this to court and show the residents that we do care,” said Coury.

The homeowner confirmed some of the complaints.

“There were overdoses here, there was also drug activity,” said Ritchey.

Ritchey said that he received a warning and claimed he complied with law enforcement’s request.

“They gave me a warning at least a year ago that they had too much activity here and for me to do something about it,” said Ritchey. “My response was I got rid of all of the drugs.”

Judge Fleegle ordered a hearing that will be scheduled in 35 days, where officials will seek a permanent injunction to get the house boarded up for at least 12 months.