750 Calls Prompt Nuisance Complaint On Toms River Motel: Police

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Citing more than 750 incidents requiring a police response, the Toms River police department has filed a public nuisance charge against the Red Carpet Inn on West Water Street, officials announced Wednesday.

The charge was filed under a criminal statute "that prohibits maintaining a nuisance, either by knowingly conducting or maintaining any premises where unlawful activity takes place, or by creating a condition which endangers the public health or safety," Toms River officials said in a news release.

Among other penalties, the criminal statue permits the court to close the establishment for a period of up to one year until there is reason to believe the illegal activity won't continue, authorities said. Named in the criminal complaint are 2 West Water LLC, the corporate owner of the Red Carpet Inn, and its sole managing member, Kartik Patel.

According to police records, officers have had to respond to over 750 incidents at the location since 2015, officials said. Many of those incidents have involved serious offenses including narcotics, weapons and theft.

Police arrested 15 people at the motel in early October in a quality-of-life raid at the motel, police spokesman Ralph Stocco said.

Earlier this month, Toms River Police arrested eleven men and four women at the Red Carpet Inn, charging them with drug distribution and drug possession. The raid was triggered by citizen complaints and numerous open-air incidents. The investigation was part of efforts by the recently formed Quality of Life Task Force, which includes members of the Criminal Investigative Bureau, the Special Enforcement Team, the township's Division of Fire Prevention, and the Code Enforcement/ Zoning Department.

“It is clear this property owner has an inability to operate a responsible business as this property has become a magnet for criminal activity,” Police Chief Mitch Little said. “Through combined efforts with our newly formed Quality of Life Task Force, we will hold property owners accountable for creating a public nuisance.”

“Improving the quality of life for our residents by combating nuisance properties and their owners is a priority in our town,” Mayor Thomas F. Kelaher said. “We will continue to hold negligent property owners responsible for contributing to crime and illegal activity by not maintaining safe and acceptable environments.”

Council President Al Manforti, whose Ward 4 includes Downtown Toms River said, “The Council has received numerous complaints about the operation of this facility. We have been investigating these complaints for many months now. I’m glad that our Quality of Life Task Force has developed enough information that we can now bring this matter to court with enough hard evidence to make a solid case.”

Photo provided by Toms River Township