The white rental home on Roseland Drive was the source of much angst and consternation: Neighbors called Urbandale police about the goings-on there some 45 times in the last two years.
When police finally served a search warrant at the house in early April, they noted a “house rules” sign outside tenant Samantha Smith’s bedroom door that said: “Buy your own drugs.” They found a couple THC vapes, some pills containing the opioid hydrocodone and a digital scale and plastic baggies that tested positive for methamphetamine.
When they searched again on April 23 they found more drug paraphernalia and nearly 34 grams of meth in Smith’s bedroom ― an amount consistent with trafficking, court records show.
Smith, 38, who already has convictions for felony forgery, possession of drug paraphernalia, theft, harassment, animal cruety by neglect and other crimes, now faces a series of new drug charges in Polk County District Court and has been accused, among other things, of keeping a house of “ill fame.” That’s an archaic term once used to charge people who ran brothels, but it can be used to describe any place associated with ongoing criminal conduct, including drug dealing, that affects a surrounding neighborhood.
Smith could not be reached for comment. Her attorney did not respond to an email seeking comment, either.
Prior to the bust, neighbors were so concerned about what was happening at the house ― reported heroin overdoses, people coming and going at all hours, loud music, and hostile, neglected dogs ― that they contacted the mayor and others, wondering what needed to happen to restore the peace.
Police said the city has begun the process of declaring the home a nuisance under a city ordinance. But police Sgt. Joe Fisher said residents need to understand “these investigations can take time to complete, as we must gather sufficient evidence, document patterns of activity, and follow legal procedures before enforcement action can be taken.”
In an age when we have so much technology, the whole process of ousting a nightmare neighbor should be easier. Anti-crime groups often recommend collecting evidence, including video, audio and photos, contacting police when laws or ordinances are broken, or forming a neighborhood watch group.
Frustrated with the slow pace of things, neighbors near drug houses in other locales have gone to extremes, including public shaming. But experts advise against provoking drug-addled neighbors or trying to reason with them. Police also can’t tell neighbors their every move as they investigate complaints.
Fisher suggested the following:
Sgt. Paul Parizek, the oft-quoted spokesperson for Des Moines police, said home security camera recordings can prove very valuable to investigators. License plate numbers from vehicles coming and going, and notes on patterns, such as frequency of visitors and the length of those visits, also are helpful, he said.
“Short answer: Be the best witness you can be and don’t take any unnecessary risks,” Parizek said.
The house Smith rented in the 6600 block of Roseland is within blocks of St. Pius X Catholic School and Murphy Park. The owners of the home, who according to Polk County assessor records are America Duran and Osvaldo Huerta Fernandez, could not be reached for comment.
Cities have their own nuisance ordinances but Iowa Code Chapter 657 defines a nuisance as “whatever is injurious to health, indecent, unreasonably offensive, or an obstruction to the free use of property, which interferes with the comfortable enjoyment of life or property. Remedies include civil damages for loss of enjoyment, injunctions, and municipal abatement of conditions like junk, tall grass, or noise.”
Now that the house has become a target, a neighbor told the Watchdog they are hoping those who frequented it over the past year won’t be back.
Lee Rood’s Reader’s Watchdog column helps Iowans get answers and accountability from public officials, the justice system, businesses and nonprofits. Reach her at lrood@registermedia.com, at 515-284-8549, on Twitter at @leerood or on Facebook at Facebook.com/readerswatchdog.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Neighbors await closing of alleged house of ‘ill fame’ in Urbandale
Reporting by Lee Rood, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
