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Roswell closes Economy Hotel after trafficking probe, relocates residents and opens investigation
Summary
City officials say serious life-safety violations and a human-trafficking investigation prompted closure of the Economy Hotel. Roswell Police and Fire worked with county and nonprofit partners to rehouse displaced people and provide services; the city committed emergency funds to support the effort.
Roswell officials announced the Economy Hotel was closed this month after a criminal investigation and a fire‑marshal safety inspection that uncovered what the city called serious life‑safety defects and substandard living conditions.
City Administrator Randy Knighton, Police Chief Jim Conroy and Fire Chief Pavel Troche told the City Council the decision followed an investigation that led to the arrest of six adults on charges including human trafficking and exploitation of minors. Police Chief Conroy said the probe showed “egregious crimes” and warned, “If you participate in or operate a business that exploits the most vulnerable of our populations, we’ll be coming for you also.”
Fire Chief Troche described structural and safety problems discovered on inspection: rusted and fractured stairs, a nonfunctional elevator, missing smoke detectors, exposed live electrical wiring, expired…
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