Springfield Township police file nuisance lawsuit against Akron Red Roof Inn

Justin Dennis
·2 min read
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AKRON, Ohio (WJW) — Springfield Township Police Department has filed a nuisance lawsuit against the Red Roof Inn along South Arlington Road, claiming it’s a hotbed for drugs and other criminal activity.

According to the complaint, police responded to about 200 service calls at the hotel in the latter months of 2020; 400 calls in 2021; 350 calls in 2022; and 330 calls in 2023, according to the complaint. A majority of the calls were for drug overdoses, fights or threats and robberies or thefts.

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By comparison, Summit County sheriff’s deputies responded to just seven total calls in 2021 and 2022 at the Holiday Inn less than a half-mile from the Red Roof Inn, according to the complaint.

“The safety and well-being of both the Springfield Township community and its police officers are paramount. With a commitment to upholding community values, the department has tirelessly worked to foster trust and cooperation between law enforcement and local businesses,” Simone wrote. “However, the alarming frequency of criminal incidents at the Red Roof Inn, including assaults, robberies, drug abuse, and other illicit activities, has stretched our resources thin and jeopardized public safety.”

Read the full complaint, filed Friday in Summit County Common Pleas Court:

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The lawsuit alleges the hotel is maintained for drug use and other illegal activity. Though the township has warned the operator Akron Hotel Suites of the problems caused by its “unsafe and unsanitary operations,” nothing’s changed.

Included in the complaint are letters sent last year by Simone to operators, offering security suggestions, like installing video cameras and requiring guests to have a credit card, ID and be at least 21 years old to rent a room, among others.

The lawsuit seeks a public nuisance abatement, which would close the hotel and authorize local officials to knock it down and sell what’s inside.

The location has a Yelp rating of 1.9 stars out of 5, with 26 total reviews.

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