...
written by Buzz , November 26, 2008 (01:24:52 PM)

The obvious drug and prostitution traffic is right back to "normal" at this building already...not even 24 hours after the raid. There is a non stop parade of people coming in and out, a lookout person peering out of the second story window 24 hours a day, suspicious video cameras crudely mounted on the outside of the building...it's so completely and utterly obvious that it's filled with drug dealers and prositutes. (go down and park a block away and watch for yourself for a few minutes...you'll be amazed) I'm unsure why our charter of rights can't be interpreted to allow the police to "clean up" a building like that when the criminal activity is so blatant. What REALLY annoys me is the owner of the building who absolutely must know exactly what's going on in his building, but continues to keep in operating knowing full well that the place is contributing to a huge amount of our downtown problems. How can he look at himself in the mirror?

Sounds suspicious...
written by pgellie , November 26, 2008 (02:47:01 PM)

Why was he pulling into the alleyway and not pulling into the bank? I'm sorry but if you're driving around downtown with a wad of cash in the vehicle, the very least you can do is lock your doors!
It sounds suspicious to me. The woman "jumped" in, then "jumped" out with the deposit bag. Almost like she knew it would be there...
Next time he needs to make a deposit maybe he better hire an armoured car.

...
written by allniter , November 27, 2008 (04:39:30 AM)

Hi, Buzz, the answer to all the questions you ask in your well-written post is, IMO, summed up in one little phrase--EASY MONEY. It's getting harder and harder to make an Honest Living, so some people take the easy road out. Don't get me wrong--I don't condone criminal activity in any rental unit--I'd like to see them all lined up and shackled in stocks in the Town Square--but from my own experience, I can understand it--kind of...I say "kind of" because I have a conscience that wouldn't allow me to do this kind of crap.

These criminals are making it bad for anyone who needs to rent a home and bad for property owners. There's a related story about a program that is addressing the problem in apartment buildings, but it desperately needs to be addressed in detached rental units (homes, mobile homes) and duplex units too.

Hopefully, if this program is successful, it will be expanded. Keep your fingers crossed. I know I will. Cheers :)

...
written by Buzz , November 27, 2008 (09:20:19 AM)

I have two areas I'd like to see addressed to help with this problem Allniter:

First, we must find a way to give the police and court systems a way to balance "human rights" with "criminal activity". Currently, the RCMP are frustrated with a building like this because it's got residences in it, and they can't simply go in and start searching/arresting people just because suspicsious people are parading in and out 24 hours a day, even though we all know what's going on. But just like we've done with the bike gang laws, we need to allow our system the ability to act more aggressively when there is enough circumstancial evidence that any "normal" person would agree tips the balance away from "human rights", and allows the police to enter, investigate and prosecute in a more meaningful manner.

Secondly, owners of buildings (residential and commercial) who are renting out their properties for criminal purposes have to take some reponsibility. I don't want to see an innocent landlord punished for something they can't control, BUT.....when they "accidentally" rent out to criminals repeatedly, or in the case of the Quebec St. building where the owner knows full well what's going on in his building, then I think we should have harsh laws that simply shuts down the building and confiscates it. Tough luck to the owner, but for the greater good of the community we need some by-laws that have some real teeth. Sharks teeth!

...
written by dhood , November 28, 2008 (09:15:14 AM)

pgellie-I also think it was an inside job.
Buzz-I have said the same thing about the crackforts. They are up and running before the police get around the corner and then police have to start all over again collecting evidence, getting a warrant,etc etc. I believe once a warrant is received for such places it should be "open" so police can actually drive these dealers down. The hood has just been hopping the last week since that bust. The stream of traffic onto Pine St. and Victoria St. has been worse than ever. You can't tie the cops' hands behind their backs and say "ok guys go get 'em!" If we expect them to actually make a dent in this drug trade the justice system has to open up some doors for them. The way it is it's not working. They need immediate access to these guys. I'm sure they are not going to knock someones door down without a good reason. These guys hide in plain sight and the police know who they are dealing with. Same old, same old.

...
written by allniter , November 28, 2008 (11:02:28 AM)

Excellent points, Buzz. Maybe this program will help that way, too. Perhaps this program is another way of weeding out these delinquent landlords while protecting innocent property owners and their tenants. Let's hope so. I agree that balance needs to be found because is is indeed too much on the side of the criminal element.

Elected judges would help, too, wouldn't they?

...
written by Reality , November 28, 2008 (12:06:53 PM)

Someone who just happened to have a bank deposit, just happened to pull into an alley, and there just happened to be a female there who just happened to jump into his car uninvited, who must have just happened to know he had a cash deposit.

Interesting.

...
written by noodles , December 01, 2008 (08:03:17 PM)

He could have given her a little money and maybe left a deposit in her mouth earlier on and once she seen his dough wanted it all, hmmm

...
written by the flying moose , December 01, 2008 (08:50:12 PM)

Too many whiny bleeding hearts whining about the rights of criminals. How about the rights of all the victims of the crime that these people are bringing to our town? Where are there rights? If you are willing to break the law then you should be willing to accept the consequences and one of those is losing your rights. Go in and deal with the criminals and when they start whining about their rights tell them they lost them when they decided to be criminals.

ya know,,
written by Vogel , December 01, 2008 (10:02:56 PM)

this does seem kind of suspicious,bank deposit,alley,girl,,,,hmmm?????

...
written by travhops , December 01, 2008 (10:38:12 PM)

What nasty, ugly comments! Possibly he was a businessman who made regular night deposits, was seen by these lurkers and they laid in wait for him. Many, many businesses do it. You know nothing for a fact and should be ashamed of yourselves!

...
written by travhops , December 01, 2008 (11:07:14 PM)

Read the original story again - my error. He wasn't making a night deposit. This happened at noon - full daylight. "He should have hired an armored car." Right, how many small businesses could afford that. My son used to have to make regular, very large business deposits and it terrified me. Can't leave the money in a business overnight due to regular break-ins, carrying a very noticeable bank bag, and not hard for people hanging around to put 2 and 2 together. He probably pulled in the alley to park as parking there is very difficult to find. How many times do you pass an alley downtown that you don't see lowlifes hanging around? If you think he was involved in unsavory activities, why would he call 911?

...
written by Reality , December 02, 2008 (06:31:48 AM)

You're right travhops - I jumped to conclusions as well and I guess I shouldn't have.

I have my reasons for my suspicions, and an answer to your question as to why he called 911, but regardless of that, I am still assuming the worst in someone based on nothing but suspicion when I always try to avoid doing so.