Latest news with #SanctuaryNight
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Yahoo
Sanctuary Night held in contempt of court for violating agreement with Columbus
Sanctuary Night, a Columbus nonprofit that serves women escaping sex trafficking and battling drug addiction, was held in contempt Thursday after it violated an agreement it made with the city to address its status as an alleged "nuisance" property. Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein filed a nuisance lawsuit against Sanctuary Night, located at 1195 Sullivant Ave. in Franklinton, on April 30, alleging it attracted criminal activity, open drug use and prostitution. On May 7, the city and the nonprofit came to a court-approved agreement where Sanctuary Night would prohibit drug and alcohol use on its premises, cut down on loitering, install Columbus Division of Police recommended security upgrades, ban camping and refrain from serving food to clients who identify as male, among other changes. According to court filings, a city environmental specialist attempted to enter Sanctuary Night on May 15 to conduct an inspection required by the agreement but was not allowed inside until after the nonprofit's staff evacuated its clients. Sanctuary Night's property manager told the inspector that entering would violate the HIPAA rights of clients currently in the building and asked him to sign a confidentiality agreement. The inspector refused to sign the agreement and conducted an exterior inspection while the nonprofit's employees tried to reach someone in upper management. The inspector was eventually allowed in once all the clients, except for one using the shower, had left. Stopping the inspector from entering while the nonprofit was occupied and operational prevented him from ensuring it complied with the city's May 7 agreement, according to court filings. As a result, Judge Stephanie Mingo moved to hold Sanctuary Night in contempt on Thursday, according to Pete Shipley, the communications director for City Attorney Zach Klein's office. Shipley said that the city will continue to monitor the nonprofit's compliance with the agreement and take appropriate action if it does not live up to the terms. Mayor Andrew Ginther said the city was a proud partner and supporter of Sanctuary Night but that everybody who operates in the community needed to be a good neighbor. "They're gonna be held accountable if they're not a good neighbor. But they provide critically important services," he said at a May 22 press conference. The next hearing in the case is set for July 24, according to court records. Sanctuary Night could not be reached for comment by the time of publication. Breaking and Trending News Reporter Nathan Hart can be reached at NHart@ and at @NathanRHart on X and at on Bluesky. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus nonprofit Sanctuary Night held in contempt
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Yahoo
Franklinton nonprofit accused of attracting criminal activity reaches deal with city
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A west Columbus nonprofit social services organization has reached an agreement with the city to improve safety measures after being sued for 'attracting criminal activity.' According to the City Attorney's Office, an agreement between the city and Sanctuary Night agreed to an order in Environmental Court outlining a number of improvements at the Franklinton area nonprofit, which aims to serve 'vulnerable woman who are at risk for sexual exploitation.' Mother of Reynoldsburg boy who was allegedly tortured denied bond Sanctuary Night, located on Sullivant Avenue, has been subject to more than 200 calls received by Columbus police and fire for alleged criminal activity that took place between June 2022 and January 2025. Court documents said that large groups would gather outside the facility when it first opened in 2022, with some in those groups allegedly using drugs. Other nuisance activity began to increase over time, with neighbors reporting porch pirate thefts and people bathing, urinating, defecating, or engaging in sex acts near the property. Over a two-year span, Columbus Fire was called 40 times for 'substance-abuse events' including 16 overdoses. Police surveilled the area early in 2025 and determined traffic patterns mimicked those regularly seen with prostitution, which court documents allege happened outside the property after it closed at night. A staff member told police that other staff members at Sanctuary Night allowed drug use inside the property, according to the city attorney's office. With an agreement now in place, the court order requires Sanctuary Night to: Prohibit drug or alcohol use or unlicensed distribution of pharmaceuticals at the premises. Prohibit camping and ensure the property does not have any operational exterior water or electrical sources after hours to deter loitering. Maintain a current trespass list of all those banned from the property and allow police to remove anyone loitering after hours. Refrain from serving food to clients or potential clients who identify as male or are otherwise not receiving any additional services from Sanctuary Night. Implement CPD-recommended security improvements, including adding additional security cameras, with footage made available to law enforcement upon request, as well as additional signage, lighting and fencing, the removal of any obstructions, maintaining windows in working order, and hiring special duty officers or security guards during certain hours. Contact the City should Sanctuary Night expand the physical footprint of its operations and identify any clients engaged in criminal activity, including theft, drug use, public urination or defecation, within a certain radius of the property. You can read the full lawsuit below. Filed-ComplaintDownload Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
