Police look to declare Matthews house 'nuisance' after hundreds of calls

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By Tina Terry and Gina Esposito

MATTHEWS, N.C. — It is one house, but Matthews police said they have responded to it hundreds of times over the past 15 years.

Police said they have been responding to a home for more than a decade with no changes and now they are looking to have the house declared a nuisance.

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Since 2005, police have responded to the house on East Charles Street 212 times. Since 2004, they have made 31 arrests at the home.

In 2018, police responded to the house 30 times, making seven arrests. The cases included three assaults, one overdose, three drug violations, and two missing persons.

Neighbors said they just want to have a peaceful place to live and raise their children.

"It's tragic that families can't be safe and neighbors can't live without fear of any sort of problems with their kids," one neighbor said.

Matthews Police Chief Clark Pennington said the house is the number one place officers respond in the city.

"It's tying up our resources," Pennington said.

On Monday, Pennington told town commissioners he is working with Alcohol Law Enforcement on a Chapter 19 Nuisance Abatement case against the homeowner.

[ [ALSO READ: Matthews leaders approve controversial downtown housing development] ]

Police and town leaders said they will work with the homeowner on a crime reduction plan, but they said if that does not work the town could take ownership of the property.

"That's not our goal," Pennington said.

This is the first time in the history of the town that they have taken advantage of the law.

Police said they sent a letter to the homeowner about their intentions. They will have 30 days to respond.

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