Police Department

Spokane Police Help Citizens Remove Drug House From Neighborhood

Homeowner arrested; House closed for up to one year

Jordan Ferguson, Corporal/Patrol, PIO, 509.363.8285, mferguson@spokanepolice.org

Friday, April 10, 2015 at 4:02 p.m.

Through close collaboration with neighbors, the Spokane Police Department’s Civil Enforcement Unit shut down a nuisance home, which was the source of more than 100 calls for service in the past year. The homeowner, Jeanette R. Johnson (52) was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Use of a Building for Unlawful Drug Purposes.

Yesterday, April 9, 2015, the Spokane Police Department’s Civil Enforcement Unit (CEU) and Neighborhood Conditions Officers (NCOs), in coordination with neighbors and the Spokane City Attorney’s Office, enforced a court order on a problem house in the 2300 block of W. College Ave. The address has been the source of more than 100 calls for service in the last year.

Johnson, who was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Use of a Building for Unlawful Drug Purposes, refused to work with the Neighborhood Conditions Officer to curtail the illegal drug activity at the house. Neighbors expressed concerns to the City of Spokane and the Spokane Police Department, indicating they felt threatened by the activity at the home and had to pick up syringes so children would not step on them on their way to school.

CEU, with cooperation from neighbors, obtained a court order of abatement to close down the house for up to a year and stop illegal activity at the address. CEU was able to show the court that the house was a drug nuisance as defined in Chapter 7.43 RCW and a chronic nuisance as defined in Spokane Municipal Code 10.08A.

Citizens who encounter concerns with problem properties in their neighborhood are urged to report these concerns to Crime Check at 509.456.2233.

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