LOS ANGELES (CNS) — The Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office is asking a judge to order the cleanup of a Van Nuys motel where drug-dealing is allegedly ongoing and for a directive requiring three management members to live there until the problems are resolved.
The Los Angeles Superior Court nuisance abatement suit was filed on April 4 and targets the 60-room Studio 6 motel on Sherman Way and the landlords, BVIV Hospitality Group.
“For at least 15 years, the property has been a center of violence, crime and disorder,” the suit states. “In recent years, despite concentrated law enforcement efforts, the crime, violence and disorder at the property has increased in intensity and volume.”
A man who answered the phone at the motel said he was only a front desk employee and that the manager would be the person to address the allegations. He added the manager was not in at the time.
Since 2016, there have been at least 20 narcotics-related arrests here at the property, resulting in the recovery of heroin, methamphetamine and cocaine, according to the lawsuit.
The motel also has been the site of at least 11 criminal incidents involving gangs and guns, the lawsuit states.
“Disturbingly, there have been two recent documented shootings at the property, including one in October 2018, when police officers were forced to fire their weapons at documented gang members in possession of a gun and drugs,” the suit alleges.
Other crimes reported at the motel include, vandalism, identity theft, assault with a deadly weapon and prostitution, the suit states.
Prosecutors and law enforcement have been stymied in their attempts to work with the owners and resolve the problems, the suit states.
The lawsuit asks that three individuals, Prafull, Mahendra and Sudha Patel, be ordered to reside at the motel until the problems are corrected.
Prafull and Mahendra Patel are officers and directors of BVIV Hospitality and 71-year-old Sudha Patel is the motel’s longtime manager, the suit states.
The city also is requesting an injunction against further alleged drug dealing at the motel.