Fort Wayne to resume enforcing landlord law

FORT WAYNE, Ind. — Fort Wayne police are ready to resume enforcing a city ordinance that holds landlords responsible for drug trafficking, gambling or prostitutions that occurs on their properties.

Under the law, landlords have 30 days to evict tenants discovered to be engaging in those activities, or they face fines and other penalties.

The city eased enforcement in 2009 after a lawsuit challenged its constitutionality. Since then, the law has been revised.

The Journal Gazette reported Monday that former Allen Superior Court Judge Ken Scheibenberger announced on Facebook last week that he is the city's new coordinator of the ordinance after the position had gone unfilled for about a year and a half after the lawsuit was filed. Police Chief Rusty York confirmed his department was ready to resume enforcing the ordinance.

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