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WARSAW — The Relax Inn, located at 509 N. Pine St. in Warsaw has been a topic of concern for Warsaw residents and public officials alike due to nuisance and criminal activity.
This year alone, from January through June, Duplin County 911 Communications received 63 calls for assistance including medical and law enforcement to be dispatched to the Relax Inn. Most recently, Commissioner Jack Hawes brought up his concerns to Warsaw Chief of Police Patrick Giddeons, during the Warsaw town hall meeting on July 8.
“You’ve had another person who died at that hotel … What are we going to start doing to start putting pressure on that owner?” Hawes asked Chief Giddeons. “I think his negligence is getting too far.”
Chief Giddeons explained that due to the nature of the investigation involving an overdose at the Relax Inn, he was not able to provide further details at that moment, but reassured the commissioners that he would bring them up to date over the following week.
Chief Giddeons told Duplin Journal that recently a woman died on the premises.
“It is speculated that it may be due to a drug overdose, but we don’t know. So, obviously, we’ve got to wait for an autopsy and toxicology reports,” said Chief Giddeons.
“I want to say she was in her 30s, but I don’t have her information with me. I can tell you that we will be following up with the medical examiner to determine what exactly was the cause of death. Right now, we just don’t know.”
When asked about the owner allowing criminal activity at the Relax Inn, as the commissioners emphasized negligence on the owner’s during the meeting, the chief responded: “I think there’s a concern that maybe the owners of the property are not doing their part to keep trouble out of there, such as drug dealing and stuff like that.”
The chief told Duplin Journal that it was a separate issue he was not able to discuss at the moment due to the nature of the investigation.
Chief Giddeons confirmed there was another death at the property — which is also believed to be overdose related. He is unable to comment on the cause of death until he reads the reports from the medical examiner.
“We have had some suspected overdoses in town. Well, and all around the county, not just in town. And we do think some of those may be related to fentanyl overdoses,” said Chief Giddeons. “But they all have to be processed through the medical examiner’s office as far as the findings. We would be out of turn to speak if it is for sure related to fentanyl. We are aware that fentanyl is in Duplin County. …My fear is that it is coming through the use of illicit drugs. So, that stuff that is being sold on the streets and how do you combat that? — It is really challenging.”
The police chief added that they will know more details when they get the report from the medical examiner, which could take anywhere from a month to a year.
“Like everybody else, they’re inundated and understaffed too.”
According to a report from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, as of May 20, there have been 14 opioid overdose ED visits in Duplin County. Visit NC DHHS: North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services for more data about opioid overdoses in NC.
