STALLINGS – Superior Court Judge Christopher Bragg entered a consent judgment Nov. 29 against a Union County property that has a long history of criminal activity. The owners of the house at 3900 Privette Road were ordered to vacate the property by Dec. 15.

Stallings Police had made numerous calls for service to the Privette Road location, including drug violations, prostitution, fights and breaches of the peace. Agents with Alcohol Law Enforcement's Nuisance Abatement Team and members of the Stallings Police Department gathered information for the lawsuit. 

The 16 defendants in the lawsuit are heirs of Evelyn Lee and Marilyn Lee, and under the terms of the judgment they are prohibited from operating a nuisance property at this location or anywhere in North Carolina.

According to the consent judgment, the City of Stallings will use the property for a community park or other approved community gathering space in honor of Evelyn J. Lee.  

The judgment is a civil nuisance abatement case brought by the City of Stallings on behalf of the State of North Carolina.

"This judgment is the epitome of law enforcement and citizens working together for a common goal," said Melanie Cox, legal counsel representing the city of Stallings. "When locations become problematic and dangerous in a manner that is detrimental to the community as a whole, it is paramount that we all work together to solve the problem. I sincerely appreciate the cooperation and reasonableness of the owners of the property in allowing for a timely and successful resolution that provides a benefit to the community at large.”

Stallings Police Chief Minor Plyler said, "This judgment exemplifies how community members and law enforcement can work together to solve a problem, and subsequently permanently change a nuisance property to a property that provides a benefit to our citizens. I thank members of my department, our attorney, the N.C. Alcohol Law Enforcement Branch, and the citizens of this community for their help."

"The nuisance abatement law provides a tool that local communities can use to mandate permanent and positive changes that improve quality of life in our communities across the state," said Terrance Merriweather, head of Alcohol Law Enforcement. "With this consent judgment, the people of Stallings will be freed from the effects of criminal activities at this property, and in turn will be rewarded with a town gathering place for all to enjoy."

ALE’s 109 specially trained agents have the authority to arrest and take investigatory action for any criminal offense. Their primary responsibility is the enforcement of Alcoholic Beverage Control laws and state lottery laws. ALE is a branch of the State Bureau of Investigation.

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