"A prisoner in your own home"

By David SkelhonFriday, August 25, 2006, http://www.dailycourier.ca/article_473.php
Host had been leading a quiet life in her East Hill neighbourhood for more than 20 years. All that changed dramatically last spring when a house in the area was sold to someone she alleges is a crack dealer.The first indication of a problem came that same weekend, when Host went to introduce herself to the new people who had moved into the neighbourhood. “They were both fairly glazed over,” she said.Host said the new owner of the property appeared to have moved to the area from out of town and was new to the city. She added that a few days later one of the new neighbours came around several times to ask if they could use the phone. The person later asked Host if they could leave all of their belongings on Host’s deck because she appeared to be moving out. Host, however, refused the request.Since then, there has been a constant stream of visitors, day and night, who Host believes are buying drugs, and with visitors comes a lot of noise and disturbance. “They are very blatant about it,” she said.“You feel like a prisoner in your own home . . . it’s so hard to get a full nights sleep . . . subconsciously you’re always on the alert.”Host complains that taxis turn up in the early hours of the morning and the drivers honk their horns when they become tired of waiting for customers to come out of the house. Host said that expensive cars and motorcycles also visit the property. People also come to her house by mistake in the middle of the night, Host said.She also said that the person she alleges is a crack dealer “lunged” at another neighbor who complained about the noise.Host said, “We’ve had situations where they’ve been throwing knives at the back shed,” and she added “So far we haven’t had a situation were there’s been a murder or an overdose.”Host said she also believes a lot of the girls that regularly visit the property are prostitutes. “There has been a lot of abuse,” she said, adding that many of the girls seem to be afraid of the property owner.Host has made calls to the police, but said, “The police will come and seconds after they leave, (the visitors) will start coming back in.”“Basically, (the RCMP) can’t shut them down until they have enough evidence,” she said.This is supported by Gord Molendyk, community programs coordinator with the City of Vernon RCMP Safe Communities Unit. “We have to get enough information to obtain a warrant,” said Molendyk. He added that, “The police are very well aware of (the East Hill property) . . . we’re working on it.”Molendyk also said that at any one time they are dealing with at least 10 to 12 similar cases in the area. He said that the general public has been asked by the police for information regarding drug use but it takes time to gather evidence. “The police have to build a case,” he said. It’s frustrating for the police as well as the residents . . . it can’t happen immediately.”