Pubdate: Tue, 16 Jan 2007 Source: Intelligencer, The (CN ON) Copyright: 2007, Osprey Media Group Inc. Contact: http://www.intelligencer.ca/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2332 Author: Jeremy Ashley SINGLE MOM FED UP WITH DRUG DEALS NEAR HOME Shooting At Subsidized Housing Complex Remains Under Investigation A 23-year-old man shot in what is believed to be a drug-related incident over the weekend remained in critical, but stable condition at Kingston hospital Monday. Detectives investigating the shooting at the subsidized housing complex at 120 North Park St. continued interviewing residents of the neighbourhood in an effort to shed light on the brazen incident, which occurred around 7:30 p.m. Saturday. "Three black males entered this residence, a confrontation took place, and the victim sustained injuries," said Staff Sgt. Mike Graham of the Belleville Police Service, adding the victim was not a Belleville resident. "We have completed gathering physical evidence and we're forging ahead and presently trying to identify the shooters." Neighbours of the home, meanwhile, said traffic to and from the house has been very noticeable over the past six months. Nearby resident Selena Miller voiced her disgust at the activity at the location. "That crack house over there has been running for about a year and I've often wondered myself if it's being watched, or why isn't anybody doing something about it? It's quite obvious what they're doing over there," she said. "I'm a single mother of six children over here and I'm living here because we can't afford to live anywhere else. There are tons of children over here and had it been any warmer the other night, all of these children would have been out playing." Miller said neighbours have found syringes and have confronted men who appear to be making daylight drug deals in the parking lots. "Obviously this is getting to be a dangerous place ... and I want to say to these people not to come around here anymore. We're definitely, as a community, coming together and try to keep a closer eye on these people in this neighbourhood." Miller said many of those who live in the social housing complexes in the area feel drugs and incidents such as the shooting are "a fact of life because of where we live." "But that isn't the case - I'm telling people we don't have to put up with this bullshit." Miller said she had phoned Crime Stoppers several times about the address where the shooting took place, as recently as six months ago. "I think my question to the Belleville police is why is it taking so long to get these places shut down?" Speaking from police headquarters, Graham said the department welcomes any information provided by the public in regard to suspicious activity. "Sometimes investigations are long, drawn out affairs, and a single phone call doesn't give us the grounds to do what we want to do. Every time we have to collaborate the information we are given." Graham would not confirm or deny whether the house where the shooting took place was under police investigation. Deputy Chief Brian Harder echoed Graham's comments. "If there are neighbours there who have information, we would love to talk with them. We will send an officer to their house - or they can come in here," he said. Harder also mentioned Crime Stoppers, in which people can call (613-969-8477 ) and leave information anonymously. "Crime Stoppers is an independent organization - we don't know who is calling. The information is passed from Crime Stoppers to us. Many people think that Crime Stoppers is an arm of the police, but it isn't. It's a completely separate organization." - --- MAP posted-by: Derek