The neighborhood problem property at 62-64 Branch Street in the Lower Highlands was raided at 10am this morning by Lowell Police, along with the NEMLEC Swat Team and other regional law enforcement agencies.
The building has for months been the source of numerous complaints from neighboring residents and City Councilors alike, and today’s crackdown drew plenty of onlookers from the surrounding area.
No official information has been released, but InsideLowell has learned that 13-people were arrested, with one individual placed under Section 35.
Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 123, sec 35 permits the courts to involuntarily commit someone who has an alcohol or substance use disorder and there is a likelihood of serious harm as a result of his/her alcohol or substance use.
The Lowell Building Department and Code Inspectors were also involved, and InsideLowell has also learned the three-story building is being shut down and boarded up.
How many people actually lived on the property and their fate is also unclear, though one witness to the raid said “there were a lot of people forced to leave who weren’t arrested.”
7 responses to “Neighborhood Eye Sore on Branch St. Raided”
As a resident directly behind this building it has been a struggle for a little over a year. I have been there for 23 years and to see this finally go down is awesome! The lowell police have always been responsive but could only do so much. Thank you to all involved!
Can I ask what was going on at the property and any specific complaints? It seems like the article lacks specifics
Unsanitary conditions, drug use and dealing, publuc safety, etc have been widely shared on social media, including by councilors. Also now picking up rumblings of trafficking. Specifics likely to come out Monday in court.
We Are Very Happy For The Entire Neighborhood And The Businesses that Were Affected By This Property. This Property Could Have And Should Have Been Shut Down Six Months Ago. The Trash And Garbage Was A TOTAL Eyesore And We Can’t Imagine What The Inside Of That Tenement Building Looked Liked. Who Ever The Landlord Is, He or She Should Be Fined To The Maximum And Any Other Property Said Landlord Owns Should Be Inspected. The Name Of The Landlord Should Be made Public And The Fines As Well.
The Caulfield Family.
Excalty. Where were the building inspectors?????
Then you have to shut down the totality of Queen st for rampant drug use and sales.
Back in the day the code in an apartment was so much Square foot per child in a rm.Now every apartment is so over crowed with the amount of people living in these apartments are egnored by code enforcement the sec 8 are the most over crowded.An running power rm to rm these over crowed house are in danger of even being safe to live they need to make sure they are up to date even on electrical cades.Keep those children safe.