CLEAR LAKE – Clear Lake police raided a troubled Clear Lake hotel early Saturday morning.
At about 2:00 AM, Saturday, October 4th, officers were in the Silver Boot motel collecting items as part of what appears to be an investigation amid long-held suspicions and rumors of drug sales, manufacturing, and usage in and around the now-closed establishment.
According to NIT sources, upon completion of the room searches, police drove off the property with a pickup truck and a van, both loaded with confiscated items, all of which were boxed, bagged, and tagged, according to which motel rooms in the items were discovered.
Clear Lake police did not respond to a call for information about the incident, but a person who answered the phone at the Silver Boot said the motel is closed and that police were, indeed, there early Saturday and took items out of some of the rooms, apparently as a part of an investigation.
“They took what they could, ’cause they know they can’t get us on anything,” the woman told NIT.
In addition, Sheriff Kevin Pals produced a case number for the incident and advised that only Clear Lake police could describe why they were there. NIT left another message with CLPD seeking information.
Sources also told NIT that the tires of a truck registered to the motel’s (current (and soon to be former)) owner, Ted Christensen, were slashed some time early Friday morning, October 3. The vehicle was parked in the driveway of Mr. Christensen’s home, which is located on Clear Lake’s North Shore Drive. The Silver Boot is located at 1214 South Shore Drive, and “the place has definitely seen better days,” said a patron of the popular bar and restaurant, RUMORZ, which is located across the parking lot from the motel. NIT was informed that owners of RUMORZ bar are purchasing the hotel and are likely to change the name once it re-opens.
“People around here, including the cops,” a Clear Lake senior citizen said, “know that the ‘Boot’ is nothing but a drug den that’s infested with deadbeats, thieves, drug dealers, hookers, and junkies. Some of these creeps who claim squatter’s rights at that eyesore are so strung out that about 30 percent of ALL calls for law enforcement service in this town are about some crazy stuff going on there.”
Another homeowner whose house is just down the street from the motel said, “Folks around here would applaud if somebody would bar all the doors and windows to all them rooms, and just fire-bomb that hell-hole. The building can be saved, because it’s structurally in pretty decent shape. But as long them scummy leaches are livin’ there, we all keep a-prayin’ that somebody’ll put ’em all out. Why, they’re worse than cockroaches, rats, and even raccoons,” the irate homeowner told NIT. “That’s because it’s legal to get rid of rodents and insects.” In July, 2014, two then-tenants of the Silver Boot were arrested and jailed for burglarizing a cottage at the historic South Shore Outing Club. An expensive MacIntosh laptop computer was taken, as well as a small purse containing ladies jewelry. Kenneth Filbrandt of Mason City was charged in that crime, and is now waiting to be transported to prison.
A member of the Outing Club said that as a precautionary measure, state-of-the-art electronic video surveillance devices have been installed which cover the entire property. Most cottages and all garages now also are equipped with burglar detection equipment, as well as internal alarms. According to the CLPD and recently published accounts, Iowa Legal Aid lawyer Diane DPietro Wilson on Friday, Oct. 3, 2014, convinced District Judge DeDra Schroeder to issue a temporary injunction against Christensen, to restore utility services to Heather Copas, who claimed that while she was behind in her rent, she didn’t deserve to have her electricity and water turned off. A court hearing has been set for Oct. 20 to determine whether a permanent injunction will be ordered.
Despite the fact that none of the current residents of the motel have paid any rent in over a year, the injunction was issued, and electrical power, water, and other utilities – which had been turned off – were fully restored.
Sources close to Ted Christensen told NIT that the doors to each room at the motel were to have been removed on Saturday and Sunday, and that officers of the Clear Lake Police Department had offered to assist and supervise the job, on their own time, acting as volunteers. However, the same sources told NIT that Clear Lake City attorney John Sorensen warned CLPD officers that assisting in this could possibly result in their termination.
How come them lives over to that outing club they get what I don’t. We know the man deliver’s papers to there, I think the Glob maybe some other. They got these new bright red light’s they hurt his eyes they go on when anybody gets close enough on that big front porch. He tripped last week, fell down and he yelled. So like 3 minutes later he leaves out walks to there parking lot to drive away. A couple cop cars pulls up. Silent alarm. The CLPD don’t do that for us, I bet not you to.
Folks who have commented, I must say that as a North Iowa native now serving in the US Air Force, I am absolutely embarrassed by the comments entered below. The grasp of the English language is atrocious, making threats to a public official on a public forum, name calling, and the list could go on. Come on North Iowa, you are better than that!
Ted Christensen is my dad. He is trying to do the right thing and sell the motel to people will be turning it around for the city and those who reside close by. No one, including my dad, wants anyone to be out on the street; he is a good man. The issue here is that the ‘residence’ in question is a motel (not an apartment, condo, or home); there are no leases. Rooms are rented on a weekly basis. Maybe the City Attorney could give the people refusing to leave, a one week notice.
… a week’s notice if they can pay the back rent owed.
@ME how come when you look up this ladies name on courts online it says 1st degree theft – guilty, 2nd degree theft (multiples) – guilty, pos. of drug paraphernalia – guilty, harassment – guilty… She probably can’t get the power i her name since interstate power aka alliant has a judgement against her too. However the city attorney is allowing everyone to return to the motel, he wants all the trash in one area so the city can watch them. If I was her I wouldn’t want my kid there!!!
This here city attorney is living real dangerous, like. Best he stop sticking up for them scum. Hear.
Hell yes Sorenson needs to go, one way or another.
@ Me, ok so there is some folks there don’t do no drugs. Still not been paying no rent, time for them get put out. Who will pay the power and water bills now. Ted is broke, his house being took back by the bank, no money. This legal aid lady cause all of us around here a whole new mess she got the lady judge let them bad apple’s stay. Your saying its ok for them trouble makers make all us pay, I say BS to you. Let them go to Mason north end, they will fit in real good home sweet home.
If you have to blame shouldnt fault lay at the doorstep of the Manager and the owner of the place for allowing to continue and turning a blind eye. Shame on them for leting it get that bad.
This is to the individuals who have to resort to name calling and comparing another person as “worse than cockroaches, rats, and even raccoons,” I have to say that you have to really proud of yourself. Do you realize that yes there are a few people that are an eyesore there but what about the people who arent? I happen to have friends that stay there that have never been in trouble or done any drugs so because of the choices of others her and her son have to suffer.
@ ME, them scum is worst then roaches and coons, I have saw them myself. Bunch of dead beat’s they steal do drugs, sells meth, steal stuff its to bad we cant just go wipe out there sorry butt’s. Who ever said about them looser’s knows what there talking about.
That outing club is not worth break in to, there mostly out now, it is not a year round place, nothing to steal left to take till they come back next year. The place is a dump anyways.