City of Eureka Closes Royal Inn, Alleges Numerous Violations

Press release from the City of Eureka:

On September 14, 2021, at about 8 a.m., Detectives with the Eureka Police Department’s Problem Oriented Policing team (POP), served a search warrant a motel on the 1100 block of 5^th Street in response to drugs and weapons. Detectives seized a large amount of ammunition in different calibers and two suppressors. The male subject of the warrant was not on scene but a warrant for his arrest is anticipated.

Also written into the search warrant was the City of Eureka Code Enforcement and Building Inspector, who observed structurally compromised stairways and other dangerous building code violations.

Based on this information, the City of Eureka Code Enforcement team obtained an inspection and abatement warrant, which was served on the morning of Wednesday, September 15^th. During the course of the inspection, code enforcement personnel catalogued numerous violations of the Eureka Municipal Code, California Building Code and Health and Safety Code including hazardous electrical work, leaking plumbing, rotten stairs and structural members, rooms contaminated with blood, urine and feces, severe mold issues, infestations of rats, cockroaches and bedbugs, fire hazards and other violations. These issues posed a significant hazard to the occupants and surrounding community and the decision was made to vacate the motel and secure it against entry.

During the course of the day, the City worked with other organizations and local housing providers to immediately relocate the most at-risk individuals and to provide relocation assistance to residents of the motel. The costs of all relocation expenses, staff time, contractors and materials will be tied to the property and collected by all legal means available including liens and tax assessments. In the past, the City has been very successful in recouping taxpayer dollars spent cleaning up problem properties.