Police Make Fewer Calls to Sweer Briar Motel

VILLAS — There have been fewer police visits to the Sweet Briar Motel this year, according to Lower Township Mayor Walter Craig.
“We’re using in-house remedies,” he said at a Sept. 5 township council meeting. “Numbers provided to me by the police department would indicate that the approach we have been using the past year, past year and a half, seems to be working.
In 2005, police were called to the Sweet Briar 170 times. In 2006, that number dropped to 129 times, said Craig.
As of Aug. 30, police were called only 60 times, he said.
Craig said rumors that problems with the Sweet Briar are not being dealt with by the township were not true. He said the improved numbers indicate the police department, code enforcement and construction officials were doing their job.
Deputy Mayor Robert Nolan said the current number of police calls to the Sweet Briar “works out to about two a week.” He said rumors of a drug overdose of a female at the motel this year were incorrect.
The death was not drug related, said Nolan.
He said the owner of the motel, (Angelo Raimo,) was cooperating with police.
“It’s a much better situation than it was at this time last year,” said Nolan.
First Ward Councilman Thomas Conrad said residents living near the Sweet Briar report increased police patrols in the neighborhood.
Lower Township Police Detective Sgt. Thomas Keywood said there was also less activity at rental properties owned by Raimo. He said Detective Chris Lambert was assigned to the Sweet Briar and “has done a wonderful job.”
Keywood said patrol officers “get out of the car,” and interact with people staying at the motel. He said some of the problems at the Sweet Briar were not caused by its residents but by “people who show up there.”
He said Raimo has provided lists of tenants to police.
Contact Fichter at (609) 886-8600 Ext 30 or at: jfichter@cmcherald.com