This really pissed me off

[Jenny_Jackson]

I have these neighbors down the road who moved into a rental house some months ago. This is a black family on Section 8, if you know what that means. Now I have no problem with blacks, but within a few days of them moving in, we suddenly have lots of midnight traffic on our quiet little street. All the neighbors have been complaining about it.

So the other night I stayed up late and watched. Starting about 12:30 in the morning, cars would come down the street about every 20 minutes and pull into the driveway of the rental house. Two or three minutes later the same car would come tearing out of the driveway and make a mad dash up the hill to the main street. Can you say "Get Away?"

It's obvious these assholes are selling drugs. The only other option that comes to mind is they have very weird friends who don't stay long when they visit. Very doubtful.

So I called the (useless and ineffective) city cops. Nothing happened. Then about four days ago a county sheriff came to my door with a picture of the the head guy in the rental. "Do you know him?"
"Yes, of course and why do you ask?"
"We have a warrent for him. Do you know where he lives?"
"Yes. The last house on block on the other side of the street. You after him for drugs?"
"No. He beat up his girlfriend and didn't show up for court. He gave us this address."
"Do I look like a black guy with corn rows?"
"Well, no. We just figure he gave us a fake address."
"You didn't check it out before you let him go?"
"Umm... Thanks." The dumb ass sheriff walked away.

Okay.. So that's the back story. This is what happened yesterday.

I checked the oil in my pickup two nights ago. It was starting to get low, almost down to the add line. So, I thought I would pick up a quart of oil at the gas station the next morning. Stupidly, I didn't lock my pickup that night as I always do.

Yesterday morning, I drove to the gas station (two blocks) and bought a quart of oil, drove home, opened the hood and reached for the oil filler cap. THE FUCKER IS GONE! I said, "What the hell?" So I'm looking around and found it on the driveway under the truck. This really makes no sense. But I started to put the oil in the crankcase an, son of a bitch! there is dirt (I mean garden soil and bark dust) spilled on the valve cover next to the oil filler.

So I called Stevie Ray Mechanic who lives next door. He came over and sure as shit. "Someone" put dirt in my crankcase during the night.

So $70 later, after draining the crank case, a solvent flush, replaced oil filter (that fucker was two months old and fucking full) and new, clean oil, I can drive again.
I'm so pissed and have a pretty good idea who did it.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

JJ

Well, you either gotta move or you gotta fuck the guy or take it in the ass. What you report is common in many neighborhoods; the ghetto bunnies move in and open a drug store. Your section 8 tax dollars at work.

Being an old criminal what I'd do is buy a cheapo prepaid cell phone; register it with bullshit information; and every night call 911 for the fire department to respond to that address. Or call Child Protective Services anonymously and report drug abuse in the home.

Since they know you called the cops (the dispatcher prolly knows the guy), he'll try and fuck with you if he does get popular with the fire department.

 

[driphoney]

I'm just a timid little country girl, so all I could think when I finished reading this was, "So glad that's all that happened!" Move to my neighborhood, all we have are a few delinquent kids and drunks.

Stay safe.

 

[sr71plt]

You've looked under the hood of your car?

I've had my Subaru for eight years now. Maybe I should see what's under there.

 

[lance gt]

JJ, I'd get my Cam-corder or cell phone cam out and starting taking pics of the traffic. Have them run the plates through the DMV and see who's visiting. Chances are, the visitors are just as wanted. A pic of the guy for identification for the dumb ass cops, would help too. A little spy work might be all you need.

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

JJ, I'd get my Cam-corder or cell phone cam out and starting taking pics of the traffic. Have them run the plates through the DMV and see who's visiting. Chances are, the visitors are just as wanted. A pic of the guy for identification for the dumb ass cops, would help too. A little spy work might be all you need.

It appears that the druggies have moved from Portland to Washington Country because of the pressure from the police. Now Washington County is overwhelmed and just ignore them. The jail is full of dealers and the courts are backed up with drug cases. Now the cops are turning a blind eye.

I've already photographed a dozen of them. The cops didn't even want to see the pics. I don't rant very often, but this really pisses me off.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

JJ

The cops dont wanna deal with it cuz someone's making money from it.

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

JJ

The cops dont wanna deal with it cuz someone's making money from it.

I've always looked at it like this - From the cops point of view, if they hand out a speeding ticket they get well paid at $300-$600 a pop. And it's a safe arrest. Very few cops get shot at giving out tickets.

If the arrest a drug dealer, they spend $20,000 to process them through the courts then $24,000 for incarcerating them. And the drug dealers are armed and dangerous.

So if you were the cops which would you do?

 

[DeeZire]

Is the house they're living in made out of wood? (Wood is flammable.) If it's made out of masonry, it would be a shame if there was a toxic spill (meth lab?) in their back yard and the EPA condemned the place. (There can be benefits to annoying govt. programs.)

Re: your truck, you might be able to pick up a video surveillance camera for, like $35 and hook it up to your computer.

RE: the cops, chances are they're underfunded right now, because of the Bush Crash. Perhaps you could get some grass roots momentum going to increase their funding. There's also the Neighborhood Watch program. Down here in Tucson, they've had great results cleaning up the riff raff in rental neighborhoods. A little publicity could embarrass the police dept. into taking action, since their public image seems to be more important than the actual work they're doing.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I've always looked at it like this - From the cops point of view, if they hand out a speeding ticket they get well paid at $300-$600 a pop. And it's a safe arrest. Very few cops get shot at giving out tickets.

If the arrest a drug dealer, they spend $20,000 to process them through the courts then $24,000 for incarcerating them. And the drug dealers are armed and dangerous.

So if you were the cops which would you do?

HA! I know what the cops do. I worked around them for many years. They'll go for the seatbelt violation or ticket every time.

 

[colddiesel]

Tell someone, anyone local that you do not believe the rumour that one of them is a child molester.

 

[Handley_Page]

I've always looked at it like this - From the cops point of view, if they hand out a speeding ticket they get well paid at $300-$600 a pop. And it's a safe arrest. Very few cops get shot at giving out tickets.

If the arrest a drug dealer, they spend $20,000 to process them through the courts then $24,000 for incarcerating them. And the drug dealers are armed and dangerous.

So if you were the cops which would you do?

Are you permitted to write to your Congressman or Senator, or even the Mayor ?
Send the pictures and say the cops ain't doin' anything.
(oh well, just a thought)

 

[lance gt]

It appears that the druggies have moved from Portland to Washington Country because of the pressure from the police. Now Washington County is overwhelmed and just ignore them. The jail is full of dealers and the courts are backed up with drug cases. Now the cops are turning a blind eye.

I've already photographed a dozen of them. The cops didn't even want to see the pics. I don't rant very often, but this really pisses me off.

Then a strong word with your local representative/Councillor to discuss it, will get more reaction when they're looking for votes. Make it an issue that includes your neighbours as well, the more the merrier. tell them to get this shit stopped now or find a new job, because you'll vote them out next election for someone who cares enough to do it. Works for us.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Get a shotgun and sit in the window...any of them set foot on your property...blam...problem solved.

Actually camera's work better than guns, the video also comes in handy when the claims adjuster comes to assess the damage. Also send copy to the DA, SA and the DEA, FBI, CIA, HS and the Boy Scouts, local paper, tv stations etc. The more footage the better.

 

[Lalochezia]

I've always looked at it like this - From the cops point of view, if they hand out a speeding ticket they get well paid at $300-$600 a pop. And it's a safe arrest. Very few cops get shot at giving out tickets.

If the arrest a drug dealer, they spend $20,000 to process them through the courts then $24,000 for incarcerating them. And the drug dealers are armed and dangerous.

So if you were the cops which would you do?

Although the monetary aspect is a concern for the state, it's not one for the individual police officer. They aren't paid on commission. Although some departments do have quotas they aren't always followed and they are rather rare.

And traffic stops are actually rather dangerous. If you're raiding a drug house, you know you're raiding a drug house. You break out the Kevlar and break down the door screaming. If the guy you pulled over is a murderer in a freshly stolen car that hasn't been reported yet you may walk up to the window and get shot in the face before you know what happened. I'm sure there are plenty of statistics out there on the danger of common traffic stops, but I don't think anyone here really wants to see them.

The bigger problem is the DA's office. If they lose too many cases, they lose their jobs. So there isn't much incentive to take difficult cases. In addition they're usually swamped with work, so they often dismiss what they consider lesser offenses. The cops know this and where the DA doesn't bother, the police don't bother.

 

[sr71plt]

Actually camera's work better than guns, the video also comes in handy when the claims adjuster comes to assess the damage. Also send copy to the DA, SA and the DEA, FBI, CIA, HS and the Boy Scouts, local paper, tv stations etc. The more footage the better.

I think photos to the local paper and tv station with notes on when the police were called and did nothing (or what they did say) would have the best chance of success.

 

[Elianna]

I think photos to the local paper and tv station with notes on when the police were called and did nothing (or what they did say) would have the best chance of success.

I agree. There are "on your side" reporters that just eat that stuff up. The best way to get someone to act is to embarrass them. I would gather some of your other neighbors together and do a plea to the local newscaster/investigative reporter. The minute that's on the evening news, you'll see some action.

 

[jomar]

Sounds like it could get ugly.

 

[MoeDick]

Good luck. I have heard many police officers say they didn't have the paper work done and the criminal was back on the street. If the courts don't do anything it becomes useless for the police to do anything.

Be carefull they don't do more than put dirt in your oil. It can get ugly real easy. And to think we are paying their rent too.

 

[TE999]

If you don't have a locking gas cap, get one. The next time it might be sugar in your gas tank...that's an engine rebuild.

What do your neighbors think about this trash that's moved in? Y'all get photos of the 'customers' licence plates and tape the goings on. Give copies to the cops and the media. Picket the place. These types don't like attention.

If your neighborhood appears 'soft', their cohorts will move in too.

 

[popcorn2721]

It appears that the druggies have moved from Portland to Washington Country because of the pressure from the police. Now Washington County is overwhelmed and just ignore them. The jail is full of dealers and the courts are backed up with drug cases. Now the cops are turning a blind eye.

I've already photographed a dozen of them. The cops didn't even want to see the pics. I don't rant very often, but this really pisses me off.

Your doing the right thing by gathering intelligence on these lousy fucks...I doubt the local police are willing to do anything about the drugs. If I were you I would contact the DEA and FBI... both have open ended means to wrangle these fucks into submission. Even if they don't get busted the heat could be enough to cause them to relocate.
Keep yourself safe as well, training for unknown scenarios and accepting that you may have to deal with them trying to intimidate you or worse. Keep in mind that by undertaking the clean up of your neighborhood you are in fact going to war and you must handle it with a serious mind and strengthen your own resolve. Involve your neighbors (talk up the things you have observed, stay clear of anyone they communicate with... counterintelligence will be detrimental to your cause) and have the police step up the local patrols as well. I wish you the best of luck and most of all the peace of mind that comes with knowing your own safety is not in jeopardy.

 

[R. Richard]

I think photos to the local paper and tv station with notes on when the police were called and did nothing (or what they did say) would have the best chance of success.

Yes! The scumbags will do no more than they're forced to. The TV station needs hot news stories to build an audience so that they can sell advertising. The TV people will see that the scumbags take care of the problem, only because they can then tell their viewers, Channel XX is on YOUR side!

 

[Tx Tall Tales]

Throw away phones - the kind people just toss, even with no account on it, still has to, by law, process 911 numbers. If you can get your hands on any of these, they are perfect for dealing with issues like this.

Zeb's idea works pretty good - but only if you live here in Texas.

 

[Handley_Page]

I'd like to make a point, if I may.
I am not sure what "section 8" is, but I gather it is "social housing?".

The snag as I see it is that we should not tar all these folks by the conduct of a few anti-social idiots.

Right, Cameras ready - off we go !

 

[KarennaC]

Section 8 is a federal program that assists in paying the rent of low-income individuals. Generally, a landlord agrees to accept it, has to meet certain requirements set by the agency that administers the funding (mostly relating to the quality of the housing; I used to have section 8 and one apartment I looked at got turned down by the agency because there was a half-inch-long crack in a storm window. Neither the landlord nor I had even noticed it), and then, ideally, vets the prospective tenants to make sure the tenants are decent people. Of course, there are some landlords who are just after the money and don't really care what kind of people they rent to as long as the funds flow into their bank account.

Usually with Section 8, the tenant is required to pay 1/3 of their income toward the rent on the unit, and the Section 8 funding covers the rest. The agency sets limits on the total amount of rent a tenant is entitled to and on the size of the unit (for example, I have two children but both are girls, so I'd only be entitled to a two-bedroom unit if I still received that funding).

There are, of course, those who lie about their income or the number of people in their household in order to receive the funding; on the flip side, there are landlords who make the apartment look pretty when inspection time rolls around and the rest of the time let the building fall into disrepair. And I don't know about anywhere else, but in Maine, where I lived until recently, the waiting lists for Section 8 funding are often two years or longer.

And now that you know everything you never wanted to know about housing assistance in the US, I return you to your regularly scheduled topic

Jenny, I hope things work out for you. Sounds like a truly shitty situation, and I hope those "neighbors" of yours get their due. Be careful, in the meantime.