Restraining order issued against building owner

The owner of the building that once housed Antique Queens was arrested March 25 on a criminal trespass charge after he was found sleeping in the building at 106 West Cameron in downtown Rockdale.

Ira Richard Thrasher Jr. was booked into Milam County Jail on Thursday and was released on a personal recognizance bond by the Rockdale municipal judge Friday, according to records.

On March 17, the city of Rockdale executed an administrative search warrant at 106 W. Cameron Avenue, record show. The search warrant authorized city officials to enter the property for the purpose of inspecting the building for violations of the city's Building Code, Health and Safety Code and Fire Code. Multiple code violations were found and the owner of the building, Thrasher Jr. received multiple citations for the violations.

The city of Rockdale also filed a complaint with Milam County Judge Steve Young who issued a temporary restraining order to Thrasher Jr. ordering the building to be vacated immediately and to remain vacant until a March 31 hearing.

The building was boarded up by city workers Thursday to keep people out while the temporary restraining order is in place.

The restraining order said testimony indicated that there was refuse accumulating and not contained in closed a receptacle, the premises were unsanitary and the building was structurally unsafe.

The judge, in issuing the restraining order, relied on testimony from Rockdale City Manager Barbara Holly and Fire Marshall Herbie Vaughan's report that told of doors screwed shut and a large opening in the ceiling that revealed rotting support beams and another that was attached at one end to the roof structure and the other end was leaning on a nonsupport wall.

The marshall's report also said the building did not meet any of the fire safety codes or life safety codes for any type of occupancy.