Anniston City Councilman Ben Little was arrested this afternoon for allegedly violating a state property code that requires city residents to maintain vacant structures on their properties. City Code Enforcement Officer Tana Bryant signed a warrant for Little’s arrest after he failed to respond to her requests to board up vacant duplexes on properties off East 23rd Street.
Little’s church acquired those properties in July 2011, Bryant said.
She said she notified Little, who is the pastor of Refuge Full Gospel Methodist Church, several times both orally and by official letter that the properties violated Alabama Code section 301.3, which calls for the maintenance of vacant structures and land.
When Bryant didn’t hear back from Little, she checked on the properties this morning.
“Nothing has been taken care of to secure these properties,” she said. “They are very dangerous. They are not in imminent danger of collapsing, but there are holes in the floors and broken glass.”
After Bryant obtained a warrant, Anniston police arrested Little on the misdemeanor charge at 4:20 p.m.
Chief Layton McGrady said officers took Little into custody after locating him in the parking lot of the Calhoun County Courthouse.
Little left the Anniston City Jail sometime after 5 p.m. after being booked and released on a summons, Lt. Fred Forsythe said. That meas all Little had to do for release was sign his name.
He is the second councilman in a month to be criminally charged and arrested.
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