Complaint lists 24 code violations against ‘unsafe’ Myrtle Beach home

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WMBF) – The home at the center of a drug investigation in Myrtle Beach faces multiple code violations, according to documents.

A notice of complaint was filed by Myrtle Beach’s chief building official against the property at 1028 Poplar Drive. Meredith Denari, the director of public information for Myrtle Beach, said the documents were hand-delivered on Friday morning to the homeowner, who is listed as Dustin Thompkins.

The complaint comes after Myrtle Beach police executed a drug-related search warrant against the home on Wednesday. It led to the arrests of five people.

During the raid, WMBF News noticed a sign on the door that revealed the home was unfit for habitation due to sanitary conditions.

According to the complaint, a property maintenance inspector found 24 code violations while on the property on Wednesday. Those code violations include structure unfit for human occupancy, dangerous structure on premises, sanitation violations and accumulation of rubbish or garbage.

Notice of Complaint Against 1028 Poplar Drive by Kristin on Scribd

“The violations listed above constitute conditions that are dangerous or injurious to the health, safety or morals of the occupants of such structure or the occupants of neighboring structures or other residents of such municipality.”

A public hearing will be held before Christopher Thompson, the chief building official for the city of Myrtle Beach, at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 8.

After the hearing, if Thompson determines the home is unfit for human habitation then one of two things will happen:

If it’s determined the repairs, alterations or improvements of the home can be made at a reasonable cost, then Thompson will require the owner to make the repairs so that the home is fit for human habitation.
If it’s determined that the repairs, alterations or improvements can’t be made at a reasonable cost, then Thompson will issue an order requiring the owner to remove or demolish the home.

If the property owner complies with the building official’s order, then the case will be nullified.

But if the property owner fails to comply with the order, then the building official may inform the city manager and the matter will be referred to city council for a Rule to Show Cause hearing.

ARRESTS MADE AT HOME

Police arrested five people at the home while executing a search warrant on Wednesday.

James Cook, Christian Fox, Jose Rodriguez face drug-related charges, including possession of fentanyl. Desmond Burks and Bernard Burgess are charged with resisting law enforcement officer serving process.

FROM LEFT: James Albert Cook, Christian Grant Fox, Jose Leonardo Rodriguez, Desmond Garnell... — FROM LEFT: James Albert Cook, Christian Grant Fox, Jose Leonardo Rodriguez, Desmond Garnell Burks and Bernard Burgess.(Myrtle Beach Jail)

WMBF News obtained arrest warrants for Fox and Rodriguez. We have also requested the arrest warrants for the other three suspects along with the police report.

Warrants state that during the month of April, police conducted a controlled drug purchase from Rodriguez.

A confidential informant bought drugs from Rodriguez using official police funds, according to the warrant.

Documents state that once the confidential informant bought the drugs, it was brought back to police and it tested positive for fentanyl.

In Fox’s case, arrest warrants show that when officers executed the search warrant on Wednesday, she was found in a car in the driveway.

The warrants claim that police found a black bag in the car with Fox which contained Clonazepam and fentanyl.

The city of Myrtle Beach has been looking to crack down on properties that are considered a nuisance. Residents in the area have been concerned with drug activity, hoarding and prostitution.

City leaders are looking into adding more lights and cameras in the area.

Residents have also called for a bigger police presence in the area to deter unwanted crowds from gathering around their homes.