The Weldon Police Department and state Alcohol Law Enforcement have hit a critical snag in their efforts to have the Community House declared a nuisance.

“The problem we’re having is we need people to come forward and talk about the problem,” Captain James Avens said this morning. “People have to tell us, ‘I’ve seen this go on and that go on.’”

The police department has logged more than a year’s work into the process that could lead to a judge declaring the house at 209 Ransome Circle in the Scoco Park community a nuisance, Avens said.

Chief Mark Macon said five signatures are needed and Avens said those who sign the petition must be willing to go to court. “We’ve done all the grunt work and documented the problems we’ve had there and the work that goes into it,” Avens said.

While there have been anonymous tips about the activity at the house, the police department is at the point where it needs people to tell police and sign their name to what they’ve seen and the problems the house has caused. “It’s their community as well. They should come forward because they care about their community and want to see it cleaned up,” Avens said.

Once signatures are in place the town can move forward with civil litigation, Avens said. If the town wins the litigation there are number things that could happen. “It could be torn down. A judge will determine what happens after that. That’s why we need help.”

News of the snag comes after a drug raid last week at the house netted the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office trafficking amounts of cocaine.

Weldon police have been watching the house since as early as 2010.