Delco Motels Shuttered Due To Criminal Activity

SPRINGFIELD, PA — Two motels in Springfield have closed after their operational licenses were revoked due to criminal activity at them.

The township suspended the operational licenses of the Days Inn and Roadway Inn, both on Baltimore Pike.

Officials made the decision after the township got more than 630 emergency calls since January 2017 at the motels. Among those calls were two deaths from drug overdoses in the past two weeks during the pandemic quarantine, as well as a naked woman fleeing from pursuers at one of the motels.

The criminal activity at the motels has placed a tremendous strain on emergency responders, particularly amid the current COVID-19 epidemic, officials said.

"The Township does not have the resources to spend countless hours responding to emergencies related to drug use and other behavior harmful to the public health, safety and welfare of its residents, police and other emergency providers," said Springfield Township Manager Lee Fulton in the notification letter to the owner of the motels.

In the notification letter sent to the owner of the facilities, Fulton said that the strain placed on the township’s emergency personnel amid the current COVID -19 pandemic — including police, emergency medical service personnel, and firefighters — detracts from their ability to assist and protect the larger community.

The Springfield Board of Commissioners noted that it does not take this decision lightly, but quite simply has had enough of the flagrant violations of the township’s ordinances, existing laws, and the Governor Tom Wolf’s stay-at-home order. Commissioners said the license suspension could lead to litigation, but they are prepared to defend the ordinances and force an end to the motels business plans, which appear to be designed to profit from this pandemic while placing first responders in danger.

The owner of the two motels was notified by Springfield Township (Delaware County) of the license suspensions on Monday. The notification followed failed attempts by the Township to resolve the issues by identifying proactive steps that could be taken to better control the operation of the facilities and prevent the repeated emergency calls. The owner, despite assurances to the Township, failed to implement the necessary preventive measures. The suspensions will continue until the Township is provided with convincing evidence that management has put place adequate measures to control the operation and nuisances created by the Days Inn and Roadway Inn motels.