The Winnipeg Manor at 597 Winnipeg Street.
Image Credit: Facebook
August 14, 2014 - 4:08 PM
PENTICTON - Residents have taken their concerns about alleged drug activity at a house in Penticton to Facebook, creating a page where members of the community can discuss the problem that often draws police attention, but has yet to be resolved.
Handfuls of residents have posted to the Facebook page “Shut down the crack house” that advocates for the Winnipeg Manor home at 597 Winnipeg Street to have its business licence revoked and the house shut down due to the amount of drug-related crime they said happens on the property.
Several members posted they have involved police in the matter, and officers sometimes show up two or three times in one day — however, there is only so much police can do if they don’t catch someone in the act.
Other suggestions for dealing with the problem have been made, including regularly calling bylaw officers, the RCMP watch commander and the fire department, and to “be a pain in the butt and don’t back down,” the group’s administrator posted.
People have even stated they sent letters to city council asking for help, but indicate the city has not done much to respond.
“I wish this council had the nads to do something about it,” posted Andy Valentine.
The Winnipeg Manor itself looks like it’s taken a small beating — glass that once filled part of the front door is now just a hole, and the lawn is far from being green.
“Sad to see this lovely old house deteriorate,” Sally Attwell posted. “It used to be well kept but the last couple of years it has just been let go, ever since the crack house on Ellis burnt down the owner moved some of the renters here and it now looks like a (crack) house and I guess it is.”
Posters said they are working together to find a way to reach the person identified as the owner on the Facebook page and hopefully make progress with the situation.
In the meantime, people continue to post photos of what are believed to be drug transactions, licence plates, and various people coming and going from the residence.
To contact the reporter for this story, email Meaghan Archer at marcher@infotelnews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2014