Lakemill Lodge under a suspended business license

RENO, Nev. (KOLO) - On Oct. 30, the Reno Police Department, Northern Nevada Public Health, Washoe County Animal Control, the Reno Fire Department and other agencies gathered at the Lakemill Lodge to evacuate and temporarily shut down the weekly-monthly hotel.

In the common areas and stairwells of this residential complex health inspectors found human feces, fentanyl and heroin syringes. The complex has been a problem for years, with alleged drug dealing, human trafficking, and violence.

Reno's police chief says it's well known to her force.

"In October there 87 calls to 911 or the non-emergency which required responders to Lake Mill Lodge," says Chief Kathryn Nance. "And over the last 12 months the Reno Police Department received over 1300 calls for service at the Lake Mill Lodge. This does not include calls to the Reno Fire Department or REMSA responded to."

Plenty of resources have been dedicated to Lakemill Lodge, perhaps too much to one location where those same resources could be used elsewhere in Reno.

On Oct. 31, the next day after the lodge's shutdown, a resident was found in the vacated Lakemill Lodge. According to Reno police, the man pointed a gun at them, and they returned fire. He was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Upon further inspection of the facility, health inspectors would find more troubling health and safety concerns residents were exposed to daily.

But for residents who live here it's a last resort. They may have felony conviction, animals, or have experienced eviction.

Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve says some landlords can prey on these specific renters with no intention of providing decent housing.

"So, what they do is entice with no deposit," says Schieve. "But then they charge much more every week. So, it becomes sort of this cycle where they get intrenched, actually to be honest with you, we see a lot of them charging $400 to $500 dollars a week. Do the math that is more money than it costs to be in a high-end luxury bedroom apartment here in the city of Reno."

But these rooms were far removed from a luxury apartment.

Today at an administrative hearing, the owner of the Lakemill Lodge had his business license suspended. The suspension means the lodge will not be opening anytime soon until repairs and decontamination takes place.

That program can be found here: