Judge Orders Abatement of Forest City Property After Joint Law Enforcement Action

A judge issued a final nuisance abatement order against a Forest City property tied to repeated criminal activity, drug overdoses, and years of neighborhood complaints, officials said on Saturday.

Senior Resident Superior Court Judge J. Thomas Davis signed a Nuisance Abatement Consent Judgment for the property at 281 Andy Drive following a joint investigation by the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office and the North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement (ALE) Division on Sept. 3, 2025.

The case was brought under Chapter 19 of the North Carolina General Statutes, which allows civil action against properties linked to ongoing drug crimes, violence, breaches of the peace, and alcohol-related violations. Authorities say the property had become a persistent danger to nearby families and a frequent draw on emergency services. A previous photo shared by the Sheriff's Office showed a wood stove pipe hanging out of the front door, and multiple arrests were made there in June 2025.

Under the court order, structures on the property must be removed within 180 days and the land sold. The judgment also restricts future use of the property and authorizes arrests for trespassing.

Rutherford County Sheriff Aaron Ellenburg said the action reflects his administration’s commitment to using all lawful tools to address chronic problem properties. In a video and message posted to his re-election campaign Facebook group page this week, Ellenburg said his office began building the case earlier this year and worked with ALE and District Attorney Ted Bell's office to shut the property down through nuisance abatement. 

"You will not terrorize neighborhoods without consequences under my watch. Under my administration, we have carried out two nuisance abatement cases...(a) first in Rutherford County’s history. Don’t let your property be next," Ellenburg said.

Ellenburg noted the structure was unsafe and was used by local fire departments for training before being placed on the market. He also emphasized that neither the county nor the Sheriff’s Office will receive proceeds from the sale, which will go to the property owner.

ALE Director Bryan House said nuisance abatement remains a key tool for improving public safety in communities affected by repeat criminal activity. According to the agency's website, "Nuisance abatement investigations commence by a written request from the local district attorney, chief of police, or sheriff. Upon request, ALE investigates nuisance properties to determine if the location meets the criteria for a nuisance action. If such action is recommended, ALE special agents coordinate interviews, prepare affidavits, conduct property title searches, and thoroughly research law enforcement records from local departments. At the conclusion of the investigation, the attorney of record is presented with a recommendation for the appropriate remedy or civil action."

Officials say the judgment is intended to permanently eliminate a long-standing source of crime and restore safety to the Andy Drive neighborhood.