CALGARY – Neighbours are breathing a sigh of relief after police closed down an alleged drug house in the community of Penbrooke Meadows.
Investigators with Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT) launched an investigation into the residence, located at 202 Penworth Drive S.E. in July after receiving several complaints from area residents.
“We’re scared. We never know if they’re going to break into our house,” said one neighbour who didn’t want to be identified.
Stephanie Castles lives across the street and said she called police several times, including after gunfire tore through the home on July 19th of this year. “There was SWAT everywhere,” said Castles. “There’s an element of nervousness that everyone feels…
I really feel for the neighbourhood kids, you know? They can’t even play on their front yard.”
Police said they were called to the house about 100 times over the last two years for various incidents related to drug use and drug trafficking, including the July shooting.
“It’s flop house. There were many many people coming in and out of this property, so it’s hard to say how many people were living here,” said Inspector Mike Latourneau with ALERT’s Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods (SCAN) team.
In November, police executed a warrant at the home and seized marijuana, meth, heroin, cocaine and more. Investigators were then able to obtain an order to force the closure of the property.
The home was shut down on Tuesday and is now fenced off. Windows and doors at the residence are boarded up and officials said the locks were changed. The closure will last 90 days, during which time the homeowner is barred from entering or occupying the property.
Global News tracked down the homeowner, Harvinder Singh, and her son, D.J. who police say is one of the tenants involved in their investigations.
The Singhs said they had nothing to do with the illegal activity saying their downstairs tenant was to blame.
The son had little sympathy for neighbours who complained.
“This is a duplex. Not a neighbourhood where they should be growing kids,” said D.J. “This is the hood. You know what I’m saying?”
Neighbours said the mother moved back in with her son months ago, but problems continued. Police say she will not be permitted to rent to any of her previous tenants, including her son, in the future.
“If the mother decides to re-rent this place, hopefully she’ll find some good tenants,” said Inspector Latourneau.
“I’m just hoping that things calm down a little bit now,” said Castles.
Albertans who suspect illegal activity is occurring at a property in their neighbourhood can make a confidential complaint online at http://www.alert-ab.ca/scan or toll-free at 1-866-960-SCAN (7226).
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