Dope N Go (directly to jail)...
Do NOT pass "go"...do NOT collect $200 dollars.
You people just KNOW I would be on this like flies on s....well, never mind.
A "walk-up" crack house was busted Tuesday, and the resident, one Vicki Lynn Rogers (49) was arrested at the home, located at 725 E. Jefferson Blvd, right off of Hanna Street.
Police said that those wishing to buy crack cocaine would walk up to the window on the west side of the house by way of a narrow sidewalk that runs between the home and the neighboring house, and ring a doorbell attached to the window frame.
The buyer would then place the order and slide the money through a hole in the window. Rogers would then hand the drugs back through the window. Total time of transaction: 30 seconds (give or take).
Rogers was booked into the Allen County jail on 2 counts of dealing cocaine and was being held in lieu of $100,000.
A poster was taped to the front window of the house that shows a picture of narcotics officers and proclaims, "SURPRISE PARTY...DON'T GET INVITED". The poster is courtesy of the police department.
Most of the windows of the house were covered by newspapers and blankets and a PEPSI machine sat on the front porch (I guess a refreshment is in order when the weather gets warm, or the line gets too long). No one answered the door Wednesday (gee, I wonder why?) afternoon.
According to the probable cause affidavit, narcotics officers used a CI to purchase $20 worth of crack from Rogers back on 8 April. Narcotics detectives said there could be more arrests in the case.
Now isn't that just typical of the type of people living (I mean renting) on the southeast side of town?
What I find amazing is that after ONLY FOUR MONTHS, they get THIS house closed up (nice house too...probably another early 20th century construct, from the way it looks, architecturally-speaking), while I have houses in MY neighborhood that have "operated" for close to 2 YEARS with impunity. Some might believe (erroneously) that the houses I speak of aren't really drug houses. Well, if you check the criteria for the "warning signs" listed below, you begin to believe otherwise.
Warning Signs of a Drug House:
1) Unusually high volume of car/foot traffic.
2) Short visits, 5-30 minutes.
3) Groups of people loitering, acting nervous and constantly looking around.
4) Cars playing loud music
5) Busy traffic days
6) Daytime activity matching after school schedules.
7) Repeat visitors, regulars (possible "mules"/delivery vehicles).
8) Cigarette smoking, scruffy appearance, similar "colors" or ganglike clothing.
9) Point man outside, especially during multiple-car gatherings.
10) People using cellular phones
((courtesy of News Sentinel article - 6 years ago- "Burbs fight back"))
Now I can say with assurance that I have SEVERAL HOUSES in JUST my neighborhood that fit ALL TEN parameters, and yet they remain open (or at best, the residents move, another group moves in, and we start the 'game" all over again...so much for tenant SCREENING by the landlords).
I have been documenting in word AS WELL AS in pictures what has been transpiring around here for the last 7 years, as I began to notice behaviors that were far from what I was raised to think was "normal".
Vicki Rogers wasn't doing anything that any other drug dealer was doing...she just found a more "creative" way to do it...and will pay the price for her arrogance.
Around my neighborhood, we have activities at the curb (mostly), but a lot of activity is the traditional "Stop-By" as I call it. Car pulls up, one person gets out, goes into house, comes back after 2-3 minutes, gets into car, car drives off...done deal. Then there are the "Two-Car Pullups". One car pulls up, another arrives shortly afterward, person gets out of car A, goes to car B, leans in window, gets "item", goes back to car A, cars A & B drive off in different directions. And this can take less than a minute (the time needed to steal a car).
What I'm starting to see now, is a lot of "backpackers"...people NOT of school age toting backpacks to and from houses, and with mobile meth labs all the rage now (cook it in a 2 liter bottle or smaller) that could be a huge problem. Never have seen a person explode yet, but I'd wager it'd be really neat to watch. Meth isn't the big issue down here, though.
It's mainly crack and pot. Those are the 'big ticket" items of choice up for sale around here. You can get a LOT of pot or crack into a backpack, can't you?
And it's plentiful as all get out. When you see people boldly walking down the middle of some street (a cultural thang) passing a joint, or toking on a blunt, you have to wonder where the police are, and why THEY don't manage to see this crap going on. I know I do...all too often.
Yet, you have to laugh at the situation. "We're POOR, so we've nothing better to do than smoke dope". I'm sorry, but I fail to see any logic behind such behavior,,,and so should you.
Poverty is this blanket "crutch" for anything people don't WANT to take responsibility for (like their own lives, and the lives of their children). And I grow weary of hearing about all these "po people" when in fact, all they have to do is get off their drugged-out asses and become productive members. NO ONE is holding them back BUT THEMSELVES, and I for one, refuse to knuckle under to all this "poverty" crap.
I suppose that statement they had back in the 70s still rings true:
"They call it DOPE for a reason"
To paraphrase a line from the movie - Forrest Gump:
"DOPEY IS...AS DOPEY DOES".
...And there lies the moral to this tale.