Pubdate: Sun, 27 Mar 2005 Source: Herald-Sun, The (Durham, NC) Copyright: 2005 The Herald-Sun Contact: http://www.herald-sun.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1428 Author: Eric Olson NO EVICTION FOR WEST KNOX STREET TENANT DESPITE SERIES OF DRUG BUSTS DURHAM -- Durham police drug investigators have raided a West Knox Street house four times in the past three years, each time arresting the resident on drug offenses. Police also have sent the owner of the house several letters requesting that he begin eviction proceedings against the tenant. "I do know they've been sent letters, we've attempted phone calls, and I know [Special Operations Division] commanders have reached them to let them know what a nuisance it's causing to the community," Durham police Capt. Ed Sarvis said. "To our knowledge, they've done nothing." The owner of the house, Gilbert Wayne Carmack, 4515 Rocky Springs Road, could not be reached for comment. Repeated calls from The Herald-Sun to his house were not answered last week. The tenant also has nearly two dozen pit bulls living at the house, and Animal Control said there was little it can do about the situation. Cindy Bailey, the director of Animal Control, said officials have visited the house "too many [times] to count within the last six months." During one particular arrest of the tenant, Bailey said Animal Control officers removed the dogs from the house, but they were later told they couldn't do so. "They said that we don't really have the authority," Bailey said. "I took them to keep them safe and keep the community safe. But there is just no legal basis to do that." Clifton Wimbish, 33, of 1507 W. Knox St. was arrested March 11 and charged with felonious maintaining a dwelling for the sale of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and a felony probation violation. Wimbish has been in the Durham County Jail on a $151,500 bond since the arrest. Durham police Capt. Steve Mihaich, who is in charge of the Special Operations Division, said police had raided the house four times since Wimbish moved there in 2002. "Prior to living there, he lived on Lancaster [Street], and they raided him twice over there," Mihaich said. "Each time, Mr. Wimbish has been charged with possession of marijuana or crack or paraphernalia." Mihaich said he reached the landlord's wife by telephone on one occasion. "I spoke to the property owner once and told her about the raid," Mihaich said. "I asked her to take control of their property." Richard Mullinax, a co-facilitator of the District 2 Partners Against Crime, a community group, said the welfare of the dogs whenever Wimbish was arrested was his greatest concern. "In this instance, when the police raid a house, they cart everyone off in the squad [car]. Who is going to take care of the animals?" Mullinax asked. "It just seems inhumane to take someone from them, to take someone from the property, then close it up and leave the dogs there with no care." Mullinax said Wimbish's girlfriend arrived during Wimbish's latest arrest and was taking care of the dogs while he was in jail. And the dogs are everywhere, according to Sarvis, who said officials counted 21 pit bulls, including a litter of puppies, on March 11. "They're actually chained up all over the house. Basically you cannot get to the house without running into a dog," he said. "He's got them strategically chained all over the property." For Sarvis, the onus should fall on Carmack, the landlord of the house who rents to Wimbish. "We have no power at all to require someone to evict. All we can do is let the owners know that this is what is going on in your property," he said. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin