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Columbus takes legal action against 2 west side properties after repeated narcotics sales

Both houses have been boarded up after officers with the Columbus Division of Police responded to numerous calls of drug dealing.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Columbus City Attorney is taking legal action against two houses on the city’s west side after repeated calls of criminal and drug activity.

A house located at 351 Dakota Ave. in Franklinton, was boarded up Wednesday after more than a year of complaints from neighbors and incidents of violence and narcotics sales.

The Columbus Division of Police was first made aware of the property in 2022 when neighbors complained of drug deals.

Last August, police received a call of a shooting at the house. When officers arrived, they found three people who were shot. According to City Attorney Zach Klein’s office, one witness told police they heard as many as 60 shots fired in the area.

That same month, officers made controlled purchases of cocaine and heroin at the property. Police then executed a search warrant where they reportedly recovered cocaine, ammunition, miscellaneous pills and cash.

In another incident, officers were called to the property on a report of a robbery. A suspect allegedly grabbed a victim’s purse, seized her firearm, hit her over the head with it and then pointed it at her demanding money.

Police were again tipped off by neighbors in December that the house was “back in business,” according to Klein’s office. Police made another controlled purchase of drugs there.

“West side residents are stepping up to alert the City of violence and drug activity in their neighborhoods, and we’re doing everything we can to respond to their calls for action by cracking down on criminal behavior, disrupting the flow of narcotics into our streets, and shutting down problem properties that threaten public safety,” said Klein. 

Another house on Columbus’ west side has been on the radar of officers for drug distribution. Just last month, police made a controlled purchase of drugs at 25 South Sylvan Ave.

The city has been working with the property owners to remove occupants and secure access against any use other than temporary access by the owners and owner’s designees to prepare the house for sale.

“When violence, drugs, and criminal activity threaten the safety and security of our neighborhoods, the City is ready to step in and work with owners to fix the problem or take the necessary action to shut down these problem properties,” said Assistant City Attorney Zach Gwin. “When residents, law enforcement and the City work together, we reduce crime and strengthen our neighborhoods. Today’s action does just that.”

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