Acting on tips received Tuesday night, police early Wednesday afternoon raided the Arbor Cottages on Ogeechee Road and subsequently charged the property’s owner/operator with several offenses.
Russell Stephen Varnadoe, 66, was charged with possession of methamphetamines, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of firearms by a convicted felon after a search warrant was served at 12:45 p.m., said Julian Miller, Savannah-Chatham police spokesman.
The Arbor Cottages have been the subject of several court cases after the police department’s crime free housing unit found it in violation of various code sections.
“We’ve had some issues in here, particularly with our crime free housing unit, and it’s been under close scrutiny,” Miller said Wednesday afternoon as West Chatham Precinct officers and a sheriff’s K-9 unit looked through the 3314 Ogeechee Road property behind him.
“Last night, the police department received some information about some things that might be going on here that should not be going on. And that prompted today’s visit. They have found some things that are questionable and kind of supported what they had heard, and now they’re investigating those things to see if any crime has taken place.”
He said some electronics on the property were being looked at.
“They found a couple of items that they’re questioning — some electrical equipment that was kind of unusual to have that much at one place, so they’re investigating the origin,” Miller said.
Varnadoe was told by Chatham County Recorder’s Court Judge Claire Cornell Williams during one of an ongoing series of hearings in September to fix safety issues at the property or face eviction of his tenants.
In late October, Williams said Varnadoe had made progress at the property.
The units will be allowed to remain in use as information from Wednesday’s action is reviewed, Miller said.
Detectives are continuing their investigation.