INDIANAPOLIS -- Renters at a south side apartment complex are fed up with raw sewage and faulty waste pipes, a problem they say is putting children at risk.
The Marion County Public Health Department cited Bradford Lake apartments on October 30 for two violations-- sewage in a common area, as well as leaking waste pipes.
Ambria Shelton, a mother of four, said her children discovered human waste while playing football.
“My daughter told me, ‘mom, I saw balls of toilet paper,’” said Shelton. “My nephew, his feet were all soaking wet in it.”
Shelton said she was very concerned and took pictures.
“It scared me because I work in a nursing home as a CNA so I know it can cause infection if you have an open wound or anything,” said Shelton. “It’s just crazy.”
The health department issued an emergency order to the complex on October 30, after inspectors found a sewer pipe from a building overflowing into a common area.
“An emergency order requires the violation to be corrected within 24 hours, after which we will do a follow-up inspection to ensure compliance,” said Curt Brantingham, Public Information Coordinator for the Marion County Public Health Department.
When Call 6 Investigates stopped by Wednesday afternoon, the area was marked off and covered with straw.
A worker locked the door and said “we’re closed” as Call 6 Investigates approached the door to the management office.
Brantingham said the health department re-inspected the area and found the property manager made the required repairs and the apartment complex is now in compliance with health and safety regulations.
This is not the first time Bradford Lake’s raw sewage problems have captured the attention of health officials.
Last November, Call 6 Investigates was there when the health department issued an emergency order to the apartment complex for sewage.
And mother Lauraine Lyles filed suit against Bradford Lake apartments last year in Marion County Superior Court, accusing them of failing to clean up exposed raw sewage on the playground.
Lyles’ daughter Jameila was playing when she fell in raw sewage and developed an infection so severe, doctors had to amputate her leg, the lawsuit said.
The lawsuit alleges the apartment complex, Bradford Lake, was negligent in maintaining the property in a reasonably fit and safe condition.
Lyles’ attorneys and current renters told Call 6 Investigates they’re concerned the sewage problem is putting children’s safety at risk.
“A lot of residents here are really tired of it,” said Shelton. “We can’t not have our kids play outside. That’s my concern.”
Shelton said she and other renters have made numerous complaints about sewage overflowing.
They want the apartment complex to invest in new waste pipes that do not leak.
Shelton has rented there for 10 years and does not want to move her children to a new home.
“It’s hard to move,” said Shelton. “I have four kids and I’m a single mom. I don’t want to have to move my daughter to a new school.”
The Community Reinvestment Foundation, a management company for Bradford Lake, did not respond to a request for comment.
The Lyles lawsuit is still ongoing.
Attorneys for Bradford Lake have not yet responded to Call 6 Investigates’ requests for comment.
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