PARKER — Police are working with a Parker motel owner to try to eliminate drugs and prostitution from the premises.
At owner Pravin Patel’s instruction, inn management has put up security cameras and a fence between the inn and Under the Oaks Park, now requires a key deposit, and underwent training with Parker police to identify suspicious activity.
“These businesses are being exploited,” Parker Police Chief Dennes Hutto said. “Criminals pick places that don’t have cameras. (La Brisa) just needed a little bit of direction.”
La Brisa first caught the attention of police in February when there were several arrests, including nine in one drug investigation. Hutto also said the hotel was a frequent site for prostitution.
There were 27 controlled substance charges filed by the Parker department against occupants of La Brisa between Feb. 8 and April 3, including 12 that were felonies, according to a complaint filed by Parker.
City code enforcement fined La Brisa $6,195 and the inn could receive an additional penalty of $2,250 if it does not comply with Parker Police Department.
Requirements included: receiving training on criminal behavior and controlled substances, the addition of surveillance cameras, making sure the video feed is available to law enforcement, evicting guests under Florida Statute 509, obtaining and recording credit card and license plate information for every guest, and reviewing the inn in 30, 60 and 90 days.
Patel said these people are in the minority and that most of his customers are in the Air Force or road workers. He said the inn had a problem in February with people coming across from the park.
Hutto said other hotels also have had problems with drugs and prostitution. His goal is to get the cooperation of businesses in order to decrease police involvement.
“We make Parker not as easy a target, they’ll move on,” Hutto said of criminals.