fredericknewspost.com
FREDERICK, Maryland -- While code enforcement inspectors and city police plotted to raid an overcrowded west Frederick house early Tuesday morning, its nine residents slept.
Before the surprise inspection, a woman and her four children dozed in a 10- by 12-foot bedroom. Her uncle slept in the adjacent bedroom while her nephew curled up in a crudely converted attic space. Two other men slept in the house's primitive basement apartment.
A 7-year-old boy tucked into a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles bed roll was dreaming about playing with dogs.
Later in the afternoon, the city code enforcers decided to condemn 5712 Butterfly Lane, a house representative of a problem they say is growing.
Michael Blank, the city's code enforcement manager, said Tuesday he doesn't have statistics to prove more complaints are coming in, but the increase is obvious to his staff.
An overcrowded residence can be a nuisance to the community, Blank said. The extra traffic often clogs the roads, causes parking problems and burdens city resources.
Posted by tyne at July 26, 2007