Pubdate: Wed, 01 Dec 1999 Source: Edmonton Sun (CN AB) Copyright: 1999, Canoe Limited Partnership. Contact: #250, 4990-92 Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta, T6B 3A1 Canada Fax: (780) 468-0139 Website: http://www.canoe.ca/EdmontonSun/ Forum: http://www.canoe.ca/Chat/home.html Author: Bernard Pilon CITY DUNGEON SHOCKER Core neighbours shocked by torture chamber Neighbours in a gritty, inner-city neighbourhood rife with hookers and pushers thought they'd seen it all - until cops found a torture chamber used by gangsters on their very street. "I keep the doors locked most of the time, day and night, because you never know in this neighbourhood. But with this, I don't know what to think," said pensioner Lois Dodds. "I just don't know what kind of city we're living in." Dodds, 73, is one of several cash-strapped retirees and younger struggling adults living at 11023 95 St. - an apartment building across the street from the torture room. City police stumbled on the room - located in the basement of a home - two weeks ago after a white male was found in the area, injured by what he claimed was hours of torture at the hands of drug dealers. The man, described only as in his late 30s, had a bloody gash on his head, blood in his mouth, stab wounds on his thigh and shoulder, two black eyes - and duct tape wrapped around his wrists and ankles. He claimed he'd been bound, stabbed, beaten with an iron bar and had his fingers squeezed with pliers. But cops investigating the Nov. 15 incident got nowhere at first because the victim had given them a bogus address. Subsequent investigation eventually led to a home on 95 Street and 110A Avenue, where police found a cubicle-like chamber in the basement. "It's scary. I didn't know it was that close," said Peggy Collins, a 40-year-old cleaning woman who lives in a suite at 9515 110A Ave. "This is already a bad area to live in; all the prostitutes, drugs and pimps," said Collins, who can't afford to move to a nicer area. "All I've ever seen there is two white guys and other people coming and going all the time." In a news release issued yesterday, police said a portion of the basement was cordoned off by plastic sheeting. Inside, a large hook was screwed into an overhead joist. Police believe victims were suspended from the hook. Under the metal hook, more plastic sheeting had been laid down, presumably "to catch blood and bodily fluids," said police. Blood samples, duct tape and other items were seized. The threat of violence has some staying silent. "It's scary, but I can't say nothing. You never know - they'll think I report them (to police)," said a local elderly woman who didn't want her name published. "The neighbourhood isn't in the best area, but at least we used to know each other." - --- MAP posted-by: Don Beck