"New" Neighbor Concern

[Dawn]

Hello Everyone!

I just wanted to write and perhaps alert people to a new concern I have new neighbors that have moved in down the street from me. I live on Gregory and recently a new neighbor has moved in to a multifamily complex down the street. It is very clear they aren't a wholesome bunch who abide by the law. They are constantly lingering on the front porch, making jesters and rude comments to those who pass by, and I have become more increasingly aware of the excessive traffic in and out of their house. For instance, I was sitting on my front porch the other night and noticed three separate instances where it was apparent drug activity was taking place. Cars would stop, someone jump out and run up to one of the men on the porch, they would hardly exchange words, go into the house and within minutes the guest would run back out to the car and go on their way. The neighbor would then come out and hand something small (I believed to be money) to the other and resume lingering on the porch. Classic. This occurred three to four times within the thirty minutes or so I was on my porch.

For those who live in this part of the Wedge and active on this blog you may recall the other "problem" house we used to have on Gregory Street a few months back. The duplex was home to a family where Dad and son were clearlyyyyy supporting themselves by selling drugs out of their house. I know I called 911 and 311 on several occasions when it was apparent that exchanges were taking place or had just taken place. I also know I wasn't the only one. Since they have moved out I have talked with landlord. He said he kicked them about after 56 complaints were made to that house in one year alone. An officer had called him on several occasions to alert him to them and indicated to him what nature of what was taking place. In the end, it paid off. The tenant was asked to leave and since then a new tenant has moved in who has proven to be a great addition to the area.

My point is this - if we all keep our eyes out to suspicious activity in and around THIS house as we have done before, perhaps we can send a clear message that we do not tolerate this type of activity in our neighborhood. I'm PLEADING to anyone who lives nearby, is walking by or otherwise observes any suspicious activity around this house (at the intersection of Gregory and Poplar) and observes activity that indicates a sale PLEASE take the step to call 911 (if the transaction is taking place right then and there) or 311 (to make a general complaint). I did it yesterday and you can do it anonymously. If you can take down the license plate of the buyer, they appreciate that too. I'm CONVINCED that every little bit helps - even if its just a call to 311 to report suspicious activity. They do add up.

As always - PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE be safe when observing and reporting the behavior. Don't call attention to the fact you're calling and/or taking down valuable information. You ever know how these or other people may react.

If anyone else has anything to contribute to what they've seen going on at this house, please share. I imagine those who live nearby or who are familiar with this house know exactly where and what I'm talking about...

As always - thanks ahead of time. :-)

[Kevin Morrissey]

My wife and I walk our dog by that intersection everyday.
Which house specifically?

[Dawn]

It's the big (bright) blue one - number 87 or so I believe. It's on Gregory Street facing Poplar. The neighbors of specific concern congregate on the right side of the porch (when looking at the house) and my guess is that they live towards the back of the house.

[Chris]

We have been wrestling with a similar situation on Linden for a while. I won't go into the gory details but NET and the police have been very responsive and things appear to be resolved. The clear message from all parties is call, call, call. That's the only way they can apply pressure on the landlord to take care of the problem, short of an actual bust which is difficult to do. Brad Goder is the officer on the night shift (when all this crap happens of course) - he has been very helpful, proactive.

I wish it wasn't so difficult to take care of such obvious vermin, it should be easier...

[just joan.]

Thanks for starting this thread. We live on Gregory as well and noticed exchanges on two occasions near our end (we are in between Ashland and South).

The first time there was a man sitting in his van on the street (if I remember correctly it was a white minivan, not certain though) and another man drove up behind him and parked. The man that was waiting got out of his van and approached the other car that just parked. I figured this was surely a drug deal, but then he handed the other man a gift bag (with tissue paper and all!) to another and I thought how horrible of me to think it was drugs and clearly it must be a gift.

However, I saw the same trick taking place about two weeks later with an actual exchange of money. So, I have been keeping my eye out ever since and will continue to do so. Thanks so much for the heads up of where this is occurring as I am not certain if this group is one in the same or if we have an additional problem down the road.

[Heidi Winfield]

It happened again yesterday evening about 7:30 - 8:00pm. We live 4 or 5 houses down and this time the buyers were idling their car right in front of our house. I went out to "pick some flowers out of the garden" but couldn't get a look at the license plate without being very obvious. *sigh* Unfortunately, we are seriously considering moving off Gregory.

[just joan.]

Hi Heidi,

Did this occur in front of the house at the end of Poplar on Gregory that the original poster, Dawn was speaking of or was this closer to me (between Ashland and South)? Reason being is that I will keep a lookout if it is closer to me. Do you recall what kind of car it was?

Thanks,
Joan

[Heidi Winfield]

Yes. The two buyers (white guys, if it makes a difference) parked in front of our house. The passenger got out and walked down the street to the big blue double across from Poplar. They were driving a red, older model Chevy Cavalier.

[just joan.]

Ah gotcha, OK, that is further down the road from me. But I will still keep a lookout down at my end. Hope you don't move! We go back and forth with these feelings often but are trying to stick it out.

[Heidi Winfield]

My bike was stolen last year from off our back porch (it was locked up). Last weekend my boyfriend's car was broken in to (smashed back window). Our landlords continually raise the rent without making any improvements to the house, like making it more secure. Now we have drug dealers for neighbors. We're pretty discouraged. :(

[just joan.]

Understood. I would be discouraged as well. Best of luck to you in your decision.

[just joan.]

Well, about 2 or 3 weeks ago I saw the same African-American male (aged 25-35 with fairly short dreads - that had been sitting in that van as I previously stated back in July) standing outside the gray apartment building with the yellow facade and blue shutters on Gregory between South and Ashland (on the south side of the street) with a sling backpack on. Even though he was in front of this building, I do not believe he lives there, I think he lives a few doors down, across the street from the park.

He looked as if he was waiting for someone to pick him up, however, because of the previous incident, I kept an eye on him. A car drove past (I think it was a VW Passat), he whistled to the car, they quickly broke and parked on the opposite side of the street in front of the park. He dashed across the street, bent down on the passenger side of the car and gave them the entire backpack. Then the VW Passat proceeded to do a U turn and quickly parked behind ANOTHER car on the opposite side of the street and I think money was exchanged. Meanwhile, as soon as the car had done the U turn to go to the other side of the road, the male in question was quickly walking down towards Mt. Hope.

So, I got a look at one of the license plate of one of the two cars as it drove towards me and called 311.

Just giving a heads up for people to keep a lookout for the man in question because if I had to wager a guess, a whole backpack given is not holding one dime bag of marijuana.

[Greg]

I've got a similar situation (possible drug deals going on inside an apartment) on Averill. When you call 311, do they prefer you call and report each incident immediately, or do they prefer you call after several incidents accumulate?