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Resident asks city to address chronic nuisance property after SWAT call
Summary
A Crown Point resident described repeated criminal activity, a 2 a.m. SWAT response and property maintenance problems at a house on South Ridge Street and asked the council what enforcement options exist; staff said they would follow up with police and code enforcement.
A Crown Point resident asked the City Council on May 5 to take stronger action against a property he described as a chronic public nuisance and the source of repeated police calls.
John Hilma, 918 South Ridge Street, told the council he has seen a house across the street with repeated drug incidents, a fire in 2022, an overdose and a SWAT deployment that occurred at about 2 a.m. "There's a SWAT officer with a rifle right next to my kid's window," Hilma said, describing fear for safety and a loss of neighbors because of the activity.
Hilma asked whether the city could force a sale, pursue eminent domain or otherwise compel the owner to address the property problems. He said the property owner lives out of state and that local families were moving away because of the disturbances.
Staff response and next steps
A city official (identified in the meeting as the mayor) suggested follow‑up with Ryan (a staff liaison) and the police chief. The mayor said, "Let's follow‑up with Ryan ... we'll have that discussion and then either the police chief or I or both will [follow up]," and asked Hilma for the property address (noted in the meeting as 915 South Ridge Street). The police chief or code enforcement will evaluate the complaints and determine whether nuisance, safety or code violations support enforcement actions.
Discussion vs. action
This item was raised during public comment; no formal enforcement action or vote took place at the meeting. Officials agreed to investigate and report back to the resident.
Community context
Hilma said the house has been a longtime problem and that neighbors of many decades have moved away. The complaint references criminal incidents (drug manufacturing/use and one fire), public disorder (vehicles revving at night) and property maintenance concerns (accumulated junk and loose dogs). Staff committed to coordinate police, code enforcement and the city attorney’s office as appropriate.
