SEATTLE -- The city has filed criminal charges against the operators of five Aurora Avenue motels where officials said there's been drug use, prostitution, robberies, assaults and other illegal activity.

In a news release issued Tuesday, the city said it has filed 152 criminal charges for tax violations and that the motels are behind in utility payments.

Outreach workers are offering motel vouchers and relocation help to residents who qualify.

The city said a couple are the corporate officers and directors of the five motels and that they oversee the operations of the motels. The motels include the Seattle Motor Inn, at 12245 Aurora Ave. North; the Wallingford Inn, at 4453 Winslow Place North; the Italia Motel, at 4129 Aurora Ave. North; the Fremont Inn, at 4251 Aurora Ave. North; and the Isabella Motel, at 4117 Aurora Ave. North.

The city said police were called more than 460 times to the motels in 2008, and that officers routinely confiscate drugs and drug paraphernalia in the motel rooms.

The City Attorney's office has filed charges for violations that include failure to file and failure to pay the business tax and employee hours tax and failure to comply with laws requiring motels to copy the identification of guests paying with cash.