Authorities Say They Have Cleaned Up ‘Needle Nests’ In Harrodsburg
Photo submitted
Eric Ruehs, code enforcement officer with the Harrodsburg Police Department, holds needles found in an encampment dubbed a ‘needle nest’ found on Friday, Oct. 9.
Jennifer Marsh
Herald Staff
jmarsh@harrodsburgherald.com
Authorities say they are finding “needle nests” in Harrodsburg. Eric Ruehs, code enforcement officer for Harrodsburg Police Department, said a needle nest is an illegal encampment on private or public property where needles are found.
“These encampments, although primitive in nature, are actually well constructed with makeshift walls and a roof,” said Ruehs. He said 780 pounds of debris was removed from an encampment behind a local auto parts store.
“The nest consisted of a hot dog stand umbrella for a roof, plastic tarps, two-by-fours and a plastic material walls in a 8 foot by 10 foot area,” said Ruehs. “By the suitcases and backpacks, there were about eight people living there.”
For the complete story, read the Harrodsburg Herald print edition or subscribe to the online edition at www.harrodsburgherald.com.
This is so dehumanizing. These are people, down on their luck and sick with addiction. Bragging about tearing down the only home they have while calling them “needle nests” and primitive is heartless. These people need help. As a local community we should be doing more to get these people back on their feet and demanding that the people in charge treat everyone humanely.