Middletown police search home, pump out raw sewage

UPDATE @ 6:48 p.m.

Middletown police detectives removed several bags of evidence this evening from a home in the 1500 block of Woodlawn Avenue.

Middletown police Lt. Jim Cunningham said the police were there investigating a criminal case but refused to elaborate.

Several neighbors said they heard police were there investigating the death of Lindsay Bogan, whose remains were found earlier this month in Madison Twp. That could not be confirmed.

Police left the scene at 6:45 p.m.

A company was called to pump raw sewage out of the basement of the home. Middletown firefighters added water to the sewage to dilute it as it went into a sewer at corner of Woodlawn Avenue and Baltimore Street.

Cunningham was seen talking to the homeowners in the backyard, though he refused to say what was discussed.

Later when the homeowners were leaving the property, they told the Journal-News that they bought the property at a sheriff’s sale in 2008. They started renting the property to a couple in 2014. The couple was supposed to maintain and improve the property, said the homeowners, who did not want to be identified.

One of the homeowners said the couple and three children lived in the home. She said she was extremely disappointed in the living conditions of the inside of the residence. The mail homeowner said it “breaks my heart” when he looks at the residence today.

One neighbor said Middletown police detained at least one female who was living in the house.

UPDATE @ 6:08 p.m.

Middletown police officers are entering and exiting the building wearing gas masks as they execute a search warrant in at a residence in the 1500 block of Woodlawn Avenue.

INITIAL REPORT:

Middletown police have executed search warrants at a residence in the 1500 block of Woodlawn Avenue late this afternoon, according to Lt. Jim Cunningham.

He would only say the search warrants have something to do with a criminal case and declined to elaborate.

A company has been hired to pump raw sewage out of the basement, and the sewage is being dumped onto Woodlawn Avenue. A Middletown Division of Fire engine crew is adding water to the raw sewage which is draining into a sewer at the corner of Woodlawn Avenue and Baltimore Street.

Neighbors said at least one person was arrested, though police would not confirm that information. There are several police officers and detectives in the backyard of the residence.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

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