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| Gerau |
COLUMBIA, 4/25/07 (Beat Byte) -- How does Columbia greet a new KU coaching recruit to MU -- a
Tiger-inspired Jayhawk coup?
With a frightening night of drug dealing on Alton Street, where three houses have quartered criminals for years and five MU coaches got an eyeful moving their cub compadre and his wife into a cute little nearby home.
The young couple loved the neighborhood, saying it reminded them of Lawrence, Kansas. But after watching nonstop dope dealing on Alton -- where dashing from a porch to the street went on from the afternoon until the wee morning hours, and buyers boldly waved and smiled -- they promptly moved out.
Fireworks maven Bob Gerau, who owns homes at 703 and 705 Alton, has had problems with both properties for as long as anyone on Alton can remember. In recent years, Gerau's tenants have been arrested for crack cocaine, assault, forgery, and trespassing, helping fuel an environment of fear along a small, otherwise tidy street that runs just behind a large new building leased for students by Columbia College.
Residents of 707 Alton -- a non-rental property -- haven't been any easier on the frail nerves of the street's law-abiding majority.
Often dealing in plain sight of Jefferson Junior High -- where dozens of school children form a daily PE parade to the Hickman High athletic fields -- narcotics buyers and sellers join the occasional prostitute using the side yard of the Columbia College apartments as a stealth passage between Alton and Hickman streets.
With his renter-related share of the troubles, does Gerau know what his tenants are up to? And more importantly, can he do anything about it?
Absolutely, says Columbia Police Department Crime-Free Housing program director Tim Thomason.
"When someone is arrested, their address is cross referenced with rental property and Section 8 files," Thomason tells the Heart Beat. "If their address is a rental, then an arrest notification is sent to the landlord.
Landlords are also given specific notices when drugs or prostitution are found at their property."
What's more, Thomason notes that landlords "always have the upper hand in being able to stop criminal activity."
Exercising that upper hand typically means canning the crooks.
"Take immediate and appropriate action based on the type of criminal activity," Thomason tells landlords. "Be willing to evict."
Alton Street Rap Sheet
News stories:
Three arrested as police search homes
Drugs found in search of 707 Alton
About 6:20 p.m., Sgt. Brian Richenberger said in a news release, officers went to 703 Alton Ave. and seized the crack cocaine. They arrested occupants of the home Laval O. Hickem, 27, on suspicion of second-degree drug-trafficking, Lakeysha R. Briscoe, 24, on five outstanding misdemeanor warrants and Aleem S. Thompson, 24, on suspicion of possessing a controlled substance, cocaine.
Arrests and warrants
Lakeysha Renee Briscoe, 24, of 703 Alton Ave., four counts of failure to follow judge's orders, failure to appear in court
David Lockett Mitchell, 19, of 703 Alton Ave., possession of a controlled substance
David Lockett Mitchell, 19, of 703 Alton Ave., forgery
Carlos Shane Ortega, 29, of 705 Alton Ave., out-of-county warrant
Carlos S. Ortega, 29, of 705 Alton Ave., first-degree trespassing.
Carlos S. Ortega, 28, of 705 Alton Ave., first-degree trespassing.
July 14, 2006: Omari Robert Simmons-Smith, 28, of 707 Alton Ave., distribution, manufacture or possession of controlled substance, $20,000 bond.
July 14, 2006: Lyn Joseph Smith, 23, of 707 Alton Ave., distribution, manufacture or possession of controlled substance, $20,000 bond.
Sept. 29, 2006: Montreil Donell Johnson, 21, 707 Alton Ave., no operator's license and peace disturbance.
Sept. 29, 2006: Montreil Donell Johnson, 21, of 707 Alton Ave., noise violation, driving without proper license
Oct. 2, 2006: Montreil Donell Johnson, 21, of 707 Alton Ave., six counts of failure to appear in court, $75,000 bond
November 6, 2006: Montreil Donell Johnson, 21, of 707 Alton Ave., seven counts of failure to appear in court, $85,000 bond
With a frightening night of drug dealing on Alton Street, where three houses have quartered criminals for years and five MU coaches got an eyeful moving their cub compadre and his wife into a cute little nearby home.
The young couple loved the neighborhood, saying it reminded them of Lawrence, Kansas. But after watching nonstop dope dealing on Alton -- where dashing from a porch to the street went on from the afternoon until the wee morning hours, and buyers boldly waved and smiled -- they promptly moved out.
Fireworks maven Bob Gerau, who owns homes at 703 and 705 Alton, has had problems with both properties for as long as anyone on Alton can remember. In recent years, Gerau's tenants have been arrested for crack cocaine, assault, forgery, and trespassing, helping fuel an environment of fear along a small, otherwise tidy street that runs just behind a large new building leased for students by Columbia College.
Residents of 707 Alton -- a non-rental property -- haven't been any easier on the frail nerves of the street's law-abiding majority.
Often dealing in plain sight of Jefferson Junior High -- where dozens of school children form a daily PE parade to the Hickman High athletic fields -- narcotics buyers and sellers join the occasional prostitute using the side yard of the Columbia College apartments as a stealth passage between Alton and Hickman streets.
With his renter-related share of the troubles, does Gerau know what his tenants are up to? And more importantly, can he do anything about it?
Absolutely, says Columbia Police Department Crime-Free Housing program director Tim Thomason.
"When someone is arrested, their address is cross referenced with rental property and Section 8 files," Thomason tells the Heart Beat. "If their address is a rental, then an arrest notification is sent to the landlord.
Landlords are also given specific notices when drugs or prostitution are found at their property."
What's more, Thomason notes that landlords "always have the upper hand in being able to stop criminal activity."
Exercising that upper hand typically means canning the crooks.
"Take immediate and appropriate action based on the type of criminal activity," Thomason tells landlords. "Be willing to evict."
Alton Street Rap SheetNews stories:
Three arrested as police search homes
Drugs found in search of 707 Alton
About 6:20 p.m., Sgt. Brian Richenberger said in a news release, officers went to 703 Alton Ave. and seized the crack cocaine. They arrested occupants of the home Laval O. Hickem, 27, on suspicion of second-degree drug-trafficking, Lakeysha R. Briscoe, 24, on five outstanding misdemeanor warrants and Aleem S. Thompson, 24, on suspicion of possessing a controlled substance, cocaine.
Arrests and warrants
Lakeysha Renee Briscoe, 24, of 703 Alton Ave., four counts of failure to follow judge's orders, failure to appear in court
David Lockett Mitchell, 19, of 703 Alton Ave., possession of a controlled substance
David Lockett Mitchell, 19, of 703 Alton Ave., forgery
Carlos Shane Ortega, 29, of 705 Alton Ave., out-of-county warrant
Carlos S. Ortega, 29, of 705 Alton Ave., first-degree trespassing.
Carlos S. Ortega, 28, of 705 Alton Ave., first-degree trespassing.
July 14, 2006: Omari Robert Simmons-Smith, 28, of 707 Alton Ave., distribution, manufacture or possession of controlled substance, $20,000 bond.
July 14, 2006: Lyn Joseph Smith, 23, of 707 Alton Ave., distribution, manufacture or possession of controlled substance, $20,000 bond.
Sept. 29, 2006: Montreil Donell Johnson, 21, 707 Alton Ave., no operator's license and peace disturbance.
Sept. 29, 2006: Montreil Donell Johnson, 21, of 707 Alton Ave., noise violation, driving without proper license
Oct. 2, 2006: Montreil Donell Johnson, 21, of 707 Alton Ave., six counts of failure to appear in court, $75,000 bond
November 6, 2006: Montreil Donell Johnson, 21, of 707 Alton Ave., seven counts of failure to appear in court, $85,000 bond
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