Court Orders Closure of North Columbus Motel 6 Over Crime and Safety Violations

A Motel 6 on Columbus' north side has been ordered shuttered following persistent criminal activity and extensive code violations, Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein announced Thursday. The emergency court order requires the lodging facility at 750 Morse Road to vacate all occupants by Oct. 13 and remain closed until every documented hazard and code infraction is fully remediated.

According to a media release from the City Attorney's Property Action Team, the hotel had become a hub for drugs, violence and illegal operations, leading municipal authorities to seek an emergency closure. Records show that Columbus Police and Fire personnel answered more than 160 calls to the property between Jan. 1, 2025, and Aug. 25, 2026. Municipal officials noted that the dispatched emergency calls included reports and allegations of prostitution, narcotics overdoses, physical fights, kidnapping, rape and sexual assault. Because of the persistent call volume, Columbus police previously warned property ownership that the business faced potential city sanctions if management failed to resolve the unlawful activity.

In addition to the police runs, municipal inspectors cited the property for an extensive list of physical and sanitary hazards. Klein said the hotel accumulated outstanding health and safety violations that included unsanitary living conditions, evidence of rodent infestation, missing smoke detectors, unmaintained fire extinguishers, dangerous electrical wiring issues, exterior building damage and lingering structural concerns.

The legal action follows prior municipal enforcement at the site. In February 2020, the Property Action Team filed a complaint in court, which resulted in a judicial order declaring the Morse Road parcel a public nuisance due to criminal operations. The motel property was sold to new owners following that 2020 lawsuit, but unlawful behavior and safety infractions resurfaced under the current management.

To regain operating approval, the property must satisfy several court-mandated remediation benchmarks. Municipal inspectors will conduct a formal structural review 30 days after the closure, during which ownership and management must submit a comprehensive engineering report addressing every structural deficiency. City officials will then complete a comprehensive security evaluation 60 days after the shutdown to review on-site crime prevention measures before the business can be considered for reopening.

A Motel 6 on Columbus' north side has been ordered shuttered following persistent criminal activity and extensive code violations, Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein announced Thursday. The emergency court order requires the lodging facility at 750 Morse Road to vacate all occupants by Oct. 13 and remain closed until every documented hazard and code infraction is fully remediated.

According to a media release from the City Attorney's Property Action Team, the hotel had become a hub for drugs, violence and illegal operations, leading municipal authorities to seek an emergency closure. Records show that Columbus Police and Fire personnel answered more than 160 calls to the property between Jan. 1, 2025, and Aug. 25, 2026. Municipal officials noted that the dispatched emergency calls included reports and allegations of prostitution, narcotics overdoses, physical fights, kidnapping, rape and sexual assault. Because of the persistent call volume, Columbus police previously warned property ownership that the business faced potential city sanctions if management failed to resolve the unlawful activity.

In addition to the police runs, municipal inspectors cited the property for an extensive list of physical and sanitary hazards. Klein said the hotel accumulated outstanding health and safety violations that included unsanitary living conditions, evidence of rodent infestation, missing smoke detectors, unmaintained fire extinguishers, dangerous electrical wiring issues, exterior building damage and lingering structural concerns.

The legal action follows prior municipal enforcement at the site. In February 2020, the Property Action Team filed a complaint in court, which resulted in a judicial order declaring the Morse Road parcel a public nuisance due to criminal operations. The motel property was sold to new owners following that 2020 lawsuit, but unlawful behavior and safety infractions resurfaced under the current management.

To regain operating approval, the property must satisfy several court-mandated remediation benchmarks. Municipal inspectors will conduct a formal structural review 30 days after the closure, during which ownership and management must submit a comprehensive engineering report addressing every structural deficiency. City officials will then complete a comprehensive security evaluation 60 days after the shutdown to review on-site crime prevention measures before the business can be considered for reopening.