Inspection Finds Disarray, Structural Issues At Apartments

INDIANAPOLIS -- More violations are expected to be filed against the owners of a northeast side apartment complex following an extensive inspection Monday, health officials said.

Marion County health inspectors toured the Timber Ridge Apartments near 38th Street and Keystone Avenue for about five hours Monday morning, Call 6's Rafael Sanchez reported.

Last week, a court order was issued allowing health inspectors access to every part of every building at the complex, including the vacant units where they previously were not allowed by law to enter.

With 6News' cameras in tow, teams of inspectors found rooms full of trash and human waste. Many ceilings were caving in, windows were broken out and there were signs of animal and criminal activity, officials said.

"Our hope is that when we go back we're going to find identifiable improvements," said Marion County Health Department Spokesman John Althardt. "What we find is a lot of the same types of violations occur."

Timber Ridge has a well-documented history of violations, according to the health department, including more than 70 violations filed in environmental court.

Residents at the complex told 6News they're simply glad someone's finally taking notice.

"Just because you live in a place that's labeled like this, don't mean you got to live like this," resident Henry Radford told Sanchez. "They got to show me some kind of difference. They all say, 'we're going to do this, we're going to do this,' but nothing's getting done."

The company that owns the complex -- W.K. Holdings -- had claimed the company had invested more than $1 million into improvements. In a statement issued Monday the company said it was, "continuing to work around the clock to address the concerns of residents, focusing especially on occupied units."

The Timber Ridge managers on site for Monday's inspection declined to talk with 6News.

Health officials said they expect more violations to come from Monday's inspection. Those will be handed over to the court next week.