Martins Creek State and county authorities are in the process of seizing property off of Floyd Stalcup Road that they say has been a nuisance to the community for years.
State law permits the county to abate nuisance properties. On Jan. 22, the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners authorized the sheriff’s office to initiate and maintain a nuisance abatement action on property off of Stony Hill Road, a private road that connects with Floyd Stalcup Road.
Led by the Nuisance Abatement Team of the N.C. Alcohol Law Enforcement Office, ALE and the sheriff’s office had suspected and, following investigations, concluded that activities on the property were a nuisance.
The board authorized Sheriff Dustin Smith to initiate, file and prosecute in civil court actions for the abatement of the nuisance property.
Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Justin Jacobs told the board of commissioners that the 19-acre property had been subject to more than 50 calls for service since 2017. Calls included assaults, trespassing, attempted suicides and at least two overdose deaths.
When the property was seized by ALE, the Valley River Humane Society took more than 30 animals from the property, Jacobs said.
The seized property will be sold at auction with proceed going to Cherokee County Schools. Jacobs pointed out that this is the first action of this type during his 20-plus years in county law enforcement.