Pubdate: Tue, 24 Jun 2003
Source: Maple Ridge Times (CN BC)
Copyright: 2003 Lower Mainland Publishing Group Inc
Contact:  http://www.mrtimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1372
Author: Tom Barnes
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?136 (Methadone)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Salvation+Army (Salvation Army)

FATHER UPSET BY DRUGS IN BACKYARD

A homeowner and father of four young children was furious after finding a 
paper bag filled with drugs and drug paraphernalia discarded in his backyard.

Frank Chartrand told The TIMES Monday that when he returned home Saturday 
with his family, neighbours informed him they had chased what appeared to 
be a homeless man from his backyard. He was observed feeding Chartrand's 
dogs a bag of potato chips.

After a closer inspection of his backyard, Chartrand said he discovered the 
paper bag near the pen where he keeps his dogs.

"There was about 30 or 40 pills, a pipe, needles and a prescription bottle 
filled with some kind of liquid," he said, adding he believes the liquid in 
the bottle might have been methadone - a drug used to help addicts deal 
with the withdrawl effects of heroin addiction.

Chartrand's home is located down the alley from the Salvation Army shelter.

After the discovery of the drugs, police were called by staff at the 
Salvation Army, who apparently observed Chartrand's neighbours 
"strong-arming" the homeless man, according to shelter director Capt. 
Kathie Chiu.

Ridge Meadows RCMP confirmed they arrested a 49-year-old man, who had no 
fixed address, late Saturday afternoon but no charges were laid and the man 
was later released.

Clashes involving residents in nearby homes has spurred a groundswell of 
local opposition since the opening of the Salvation Army's shelter.

The issue is whether problems are caused by: people who stay at the 
shelter; people who simply hang out near the shelter and who have long 
lived in the bushy areas close by; or a suspected drug house located in the 
same neighbourhood.

"I can put up with a lot of stuff but that's not tolerable," Chartrand 
said. "I've got four kids (ranging in age from a baby to a seven years 
old). What if one of my kids swallowed one of those pills thinking it was 
candy."

In response to Saturday's incident, Chiu told The TIMES the Salvation Army 
is doing all it can to mitigate the impact of shelter uses on nearby residents.

"We have continued to try and work with neighbours as best we can. We are 
working diligently to address these issues and we empathize with the 
residents' concerns," she said, adding, however, keeping tabs on all the 
people who use the shelter when they leave Salvation Army property and what 
they do isn't possible with the limited amount of staff she has.

"Once it goes go beyond our property it becomes a municipality and police 
issue (but) we try to cooperate with police and all community members," she 
said.

The Salvation Army is looking into hiring a full-time security guard and is 
hoping to meet again with nearby residents to update what has happened 
since the last public meeting held to discuss homeless issues in Maple Ridge.

"We have addressed all lot of their complaints...but we have not succeeded 
fully to meet all their concerns," Chiu said. 
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MAP posted-by: Thunder