Following years of continuous disturbances, drug violations, and a high volume of emergency calls, a property in Polk County has been formally shut down through collaborative civil action between the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Mill Spring Township and North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement’s (ALE) Nuisance Abatement Team.
On Tuesday, October 27, 2026, Superior Court Judge Troy Stafford signed a consent judgment for a Chapter 19 Nuisance Abatement action against the property owner of 113 Henry Ruff Road in Mill Spring.
The judgment marks the final step in a civil nuisance lawsuit brought by Polk County on behalf of the State of North Carolina. Under Chapter 19 of the North Carolina General Statutes, civil remedies are provided to eliminate criminal acts, property-related nuisance activities, and their detrimental impacts on public safety and community well-being.
"This property has been a longstanding threat to the safety and quality of life of our community, leaving residents fearful and placing a significant burden on law enforcement and emergency services," said Polk County Sheriff Tim Wright. "This resolution demonstrates our commitment to protecting our citizens, holding problem properties accountable, and restoring safety and peace of mind to the community. It is the result of outstanding investigative work and strong collaboration between Polk County officials and ALE’s Nuisance Abatement Team."
Under the terms of the consent judgment:
- All nuisance activity must immediately cease.
- The property must be vacated by all occupants, with the exception of the property owner.
- A legally binding agreement governs the future intended use of the property, strictly prohibiting any future nuisance-related conduct.
- The property owner is ordered to clean up the property and bring it into full compliance within 365 days.
"I appreciate the cooperation from the property owner as we worked to solve this problem," Sheriff Wright added. "I also commend the citizens of this community for partnering with law enforcement to ensure the community returns to a peaceful life."
ALE’s Nuisance Abatement Team partners with local law enforcement agencies and municipalities across North Carolina to target properties that foster recurring illegal activity, drug sales, violent crime, or public disturbances, utilizing state civil nuisance laws to restore safety to neighborhood communities.