Pubdate: Sun, 21 May 2000
Source: Winnipeg Free Press (CN MB)
Copyright: 2000 Winnipeg Free Press
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Author: Nick Martin

ST. VITAL RESIDENTS JEER 'DRUG HOUSE'

Residents of a St. Vital neighbourhood picketed a home last night that
they claim houses young drug dealers.

"We just want to show we're not putting up with this. You're looking
at 30, 40 drug deals a day" in the last few days, said Gary Coleman, a
member of the Elm Park Citizens on Patrol.

Residents say young people run out at all hours of the day to make
some form of exchange with cars full of teenagers that pull up at the
curb or in the back lane. It's over in 10 seconds, they said last night.

About 15 residents sat in lawn chairs, holding up signs that read
"drug house," "honk if you hate drug dealers," "house of shame," and
"drug dealers here."

The home's 86-year-old owner said last night he had no intention of
going outside to talk to the protesters. "I'm 86, I don't need this,"
he said. "That's fine, I'll just go to bed."

The man said he lives with his son and one other young man who is not
related to him. Friends of his son and grandson have been dropping by,
sometimes while he's out babysitting his daughter's children. "There's
one other kid that came around here recently, I want to get rid of
him."

The man said he let police into his home Friday night. "They had no
warrant. I let them in. I don't care."

Police removed a green cigarette, said the man, adding that he doesn't
smoke.

Winnipeg Police Insp. Jack Tinsley said the residents are not breaking
any laws, as long as they stay off the man's property, don't impede
access to the house, and don't bother the owner. However, they should
be very careful about leaving themselves open to civil action over
their accusations, which have not been proven in court and haven't led
to any charges, Tinsley said.
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