LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WHAS11) - A Louisville gas station has been ordered to shut down, after becoming what police call a problem property.
The B.P. Gas Station on Broadway is always busy, but Metro Police say its busy for all of the wrong reasons.
"It’s one of the armpits of my beat, one of my trouble areas,” LMPD officer Sean Sargent said.
The property has seen a number of violations including two employees cited for selling drugs, and a clerk was arrested and accused of shooting and killing a man inside the store.
A case file with the state dates back to 2016. The most recent papers, detailing a hearing scheduled in Frankfort to revoke the business alcohol license.
But this isn't only a problem for city leaders, it’s a problem for taxpayers too.
"Its costs us, the city, taxpayers about $116,000 dollars, $117,000 dollars in the last year,” LMPD resource officer Christian Bevin said.
City data shows there has been $117,000 in EMS, police and fire runs to this property and the 500 feet surrounding it.
Using more police resources than any other business in the metro, Codes and Regulations ordered the business vacate.
The business owner appealed that order, which brought them to a hearing to make their case.
"All I'm trying to do, Mister Barber, is making a living, an honest living. I'm not trying to be against the law,” gas station manager Maher Ghareeb said.
The gas station manager blames the high numbers of homeless people in the neighborhood for the property's problems.
"I'll do whatever it takes, whatever it takes to keep homeless people off the property,” Ghareeb said.
He added they're ready to hire security and work with police to change the gas and grocery's reputation.
But the Codes and Regulations supervisor on this case said he's heard that before.
"I've been promised for 16 months at this point that they were going to hire security”, Wesley Barbour said.
For now, the vacate order stands.
Officials gave the gas station owner 30 days to appeal before closing the doors for good.