Super 8 shutdown
A problem hotel property in Belen was closed down after it was deemed a nuisance by city fire and police officials. What began as a routine inspection by the fire marshal led to the discovery of more than 100 violations and the shuttering of the Super 8 Hotel.
Clara Garcia | News-Bulletin photo
One room in the Super 8 Hotel in Belen has been occupied by an individual for 14 years. Police and fire officials consider the individual to be a hoarder, saying the room is a safety and fire hazard.
Charles Cox, the deputy chief of operations with the Belen Fire Department, said there were multiple electrical problems at the hotel, but instead of addressing them, the hotel staff has made things worse. For example, they ran extension cords through the walls for lights in several rooms.
Major violations found by the department ranged from multiple exposed wires, and the sprinkler and fire alarms systems hadn’t been tested in more than two years, the building’s fire extinguishers were out of service and the majority of smoke detectors were missing, damaged or disabled, making fire protection nearly nonexistent in the hotel. The fire doors were also damaged and altered.
Belen Police Chief James Harris called the hotel “a den of criminal activity,” noting in addition to drug activity and prostitution the department recovered stolen property and vehicles there.
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April 18, 2024
