Medicine Hat Police Chief Mike Worden looks on Thursday as crews finish erecting a fence around a home on Fifth Street SW, which is the subject of a 90-day closure order to quell drug activity.--News Photo Collin Gallant
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant
Alberta Sheriffs have fenced off a home on the Southwest Hill they say was the site of drug dealing and general crime for three years.
The home, located at 144 Fifth St. SW, across the street from the parking lot for CAPE School, will now be shuttered for 90 days and only be handed back to the owner under conditions and continued police monitoring.
Insp. Mike Letourneau, of the Alberta Safe Communities and Neighbourhoods unit said his office handled the file from Medicine Hat police that was handed over in April 2021. A court order issued last month allows them to erect an eight-foot fence and board the property in an attempt to quell criminal activity.
“Because of the proximity to the school there would have been a larger impact to people coming and going,” he said.
“There were volumes of people coming to the property, upwards of 20 per day, and some were doing drug transactions that were fairly obvious.”
Police say they have responded to 120 calls over the past three years, including bylaw complaints, on top of calls for ambulances.
A release states the home was the scene of a home invasion robbery and two fatal drug overdoses since January 2019.
The owner, Lloyd Cayenne, was unreachable for comment on Thursday.
Sheriffs were granted the ability Court of Queen’s Bench decision on Feb. 17.
The owner is barred from the property for 90 days. He will be allowed to return on June 1, but face conditions, such as limiting visitors, for a further nine months and monitored by Medicine Hat police.
Nearby homeowners told the News they were pleased action was being taken.
“It’s about time,” said one neighbour, who has lived on the block for 14 years and declined to provide his name.
He said property crime has grown in the area as suspicious people lingered and often cut through side yards to approach the windows of the home.
“It’s like a drive-thru,” he said.
Local police said they are conscious of the effect of crime on neighbourhoods and work to stop problems from recurring.
“It’s a relief for them and it’ll reduce pressure on police resources,” said Medicine Hat police Insp. Joe West.
He said the local police service typically has between 20 to 30 locations that they flag as problem houses. They are forwarded to Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods (SCAN) branch of the Sheriff’s department when they meet the standard where Alberta Justice officials believe they could successfully applied for courts for “Community Safety” order.
“It’s a provincial initiative that specifically targets the locations,” he said.
