LISBON — An alleged nuisance drug house condemned and then boarded up by East Liverpool officials in September at 709 Sophia St. will remain padlocked and boarded up for one year.

Columbiana County Common Pleas Court Judge Megan Bickerton issued the ruling for a permanent injunction against property owner William D. Barrett Thursday after hearing testimony from three East Liverpool public officials regarding the nuisance issues.

“The burden has been met,” she said, referring to just cause for issuing the permanent injunction.

The ruling drew a positive response after the hearing from East Liverpool Mayor Bobby Smith, who’s been targeting the drug issues in the city since taking office two years ago.

“I hope it sends a notice that we’re serious about this. We are not going to let this conduct keep going on,” Smith said.

He helped board up the home himself and has been in attendance at all the hearings, testifying Thursday afternoon about the effect the activities at the house had on the neighborhood.

During questioning by East Liverpool Assistant Law Director John Gamble, he said he was aware of the problems at 709 Sophia St. and was getting complaints daily. He said neighbors didn’t feel safe.

When asked why he believed the judge should issue the permanent injunction, Smith said they give people a fair chance and offer help. In this case he said Barrett had every opportunity to get in line.

“We tried and tried and tried,” he testified.

Regarding whether the boarding up of the property had improved the situation, he said, “The neighbors are very appreciative,” Smith said, adding that one woman “thanked us for what we were trying to do.”

Barrett did not attend this hearing or any of the other hearings.

After granting the permanent injunction, Bickerton signed a judgment entry Gamble had prepared which will be filed in the clerk’s office. She had issued a temporary restraining order in September at the city’s request, ruling that the property be closed, padlocked and windows boarded as deemed necessary by the East Liverpool Police Department, which was done immediately.

Bickerton wrote then that it clearly appeared from the affidavit and complaint that injury, loss or damage would result to the city.

“The injury, loss or damage includes continuing and repeated instances of violence, disruptive conduct and felony drug activity on or around the premises since January 2022. This conduct and activity places the public, police officers, emergency responders and the public in immediate danger,” she wrote.

The city filed the complaint against the property owner, Barrett, in September requesting the permanent closure of the property for at least one year due to continued illegal drug activity and criminal activity at the house since 2022.

East Liverpool City Housing Director Amy Grossen and East Liverpool City Police Chief John Lane both testified about their experiences dealing with Barrett and the house on Sophia Street. Grossen said the property had previously been a rental with drug activity, then the owner at the time was notified about the problems and said he would evict Barrett, but instead he signed the property over to Barrett. At first, she said Barrett indicated he was going to clean up the property and cooperate, but then the problems increased. A church borders the property and the house is near the Giant Eagle.

Both Grossen and Lane talked about the drug raids, an overdose death and other criminal complaints at the property. Grossen said the neighbors were fearful and Lane said the “neighbors were sick of all the activity.”

The complaint went into great detail about numerous incidents and resulting arrests, starting with a drug raid on Jan. 11, 2022 when a large amount of methamphetamine was seized along with three digital scales, a pistol and a round of 9mm ammunition.

The three people in the house included William D. Barrett’s son Justin, whose felony convictions include burglary, breaking and entering, improper handling of firearms in a motor vehicle, tampering with evidence, aggravated possession of drugs, possession of drugs, having weapons while under disability, illegal conveyance of drugs of abuse onto the grounds of a governmental facility, complicity and possessing criminal tools. The other two people, Michael Greathouse and April Birtwell also had criminal convictions.

The now previous owner of the property was notified about the warrant the next day and about the activity. In July 2022, the property was signed over to William D. Barrett. Police responded to the property in February 2023 for a man who fell and struck his head.

More activities were reported in 2024, with the request for a welfare check, a break-in by a woman who was bitten by William D. Barrett’s dog and had numerous convictions, another illegal entry by two more people, including Khbair Tisdale, whose felony drug convictions were numerous, On July 23, 2024, there was a structure fire at the property, with a person reported someone poured gasoline on the door leading to a bedroom where they were staying. That person and another person located at the scene both had convictions.

On Aug. 27, 2024, police responded to the property for an accidental drug overdose by a man from Youngstown who was later pronounced dead. His convictions were also numerous for drugs charges and even felonious assault. A witness also had felony drug convictions.

On Feb. 12 this year, East Liverpool police officers and the Columbiana County Drug Task Force executed a search warrant and found suspected illegal drugs and a .38-caliber revolver, along with three people with numerous convictions, including Justin Barrett.

The city housing department posted the property condemned after the drug raid and ordered it vacated immediately after the house was found uninhabitable due to structural and unsanitary conditions. The property was inspected and again condemned on March 7. Police were called to the property on March 17 after being told a woman entered with a baby and found William D. Barrett inside to do repairs.

On May 1, the CCDTF and East Liverpool police officers executed another search warrant at the property and found several people inside even though it was still posted condemned and ordered vacated. Breaking and entering was reported and trespassing on May 2.

The city requested the property be declared a public nuisance and closed up, with all personal property and contents used in conducting the nuisance ordered sold, along with damages and costs of boarding up the property.