City seeking shutdown of landlord's properties after rash of overdoses

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX/WTTE) -- The city of Columbus has temporarily boarded up what they describe as a nuisance home linked to long-standing drug activity, which may have factored into nine overdoses in the Linden area on Tuesday.

Columbus City Attorney Richard C. Pfeiffer, Jr. was granted a request for an emergency temporary restraining order to evacuate and immediately board up 967 Duxberry Avenue in Linden.

Propery owner Michael Fosnaugh, who the prosecutor's office says received formal written notification and spoke with authorities about illegal drug activity at the Linden residence only for it to continue, also faces a similar sanction over another home suspected of continuous drug activity at 1036 Bellows Avenue off of Sullivant Avenue in Franklinton.

The city is trying prove both properties as a public nuisance, where the state would grant them the ability to shut down both properties for up to a year.

Narcotics detectives found crack-cocaine, heroin, marijuana, multiple guns -- including shotguns, rifles, and revolvers -- with live rounds, along with more ammunition at the Duxberry Avenue house through search received after undercover officers purchased drugs from the home. The residence is within a half-mile radius of Hamilton Elementary School, the Linmoor Education Center, and Linden McKinley High School. Three of the five people found during one search were wanted on various outstanding warrant arrests.

Investigations of the Franklinton revealed there was so much drug trafficking that there were people outside working as "doormen," prosecutors said.

Preliminary injunctive relief hearings to be held for both properties on October 11.