Penbrooke drug house shuttered after 100 police visits

Neighbours of a notorious drug house in Calgary's Penbrooke community that has been visited by police nearly 100 times over the past two years will finally enjoy some peace and quiet over the holidays.

Police visited202PenworthDr. S.E. on Tuesday to shut it down and board it up.

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After numerous neighbour complaints about drug activity at the home, Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT)launched a five-month investigation through theirSafer Communities and Neighbourhoodsteam (SCAN).

"The people in this community were absolutely terrified of what was going on at this property," saidInsp. MikeLetourneauofSCAN, adding that it'sone of the five worst drug houses he's seen.

SCAN uses civil legislation to target problem properties around the province that are used for illegal purposes such as prostitution, gang activity, drug use and drug trafficking.

After investigators witnessed drug activity atthePenworthaddress, acommunity safety orderwas issued.

The house will be boarded up, fenced off and its locks changed. The owner andtenants will not be allowed in for 90 days.

Homeowner and her son

The homeowner is a woman whose son was the main occupant, saidLetourneau. The sonfaces drug-related charges in connection with several police visits to the home.

When the eviction period is up, the homeownerwill be allowed to rent the house out. She was also living in the house when the illegal activity was taking place, according to police.

"Hopefully she makes some good decisions and gets some good people in here," said Letourneau.

Both ALERT and city police saypeople in the community were instrumental in getting the court order to get the house closed.

The activity at the home over the past two years has been a "huge strain" on police resources, saidLetourneauwith 98 police visitsand several charges being laid.

"[Inside] you'd see a home that's unkept, unclean and somewhere where most peoplewouldn't even consider living," said Staff Sgt Geoff Gawlinski with the Calgary Police Service.

Marijuana, methamphetamines, heroine and cocaine have all been found in the house, says Gawlinski.

Shooting in the house

One of the major catalysts in getting the house shuttered was an incident in July when shots were fired inside. Officers discovered bullets lodgedin the walls and ceiling.

That's what spurred neighbour Stephanie Castles into action.

"I believe if you keep your head down, criminal activity doesn't really affect you too much if you'renot of that element," said Castles. "That said, there's kids that live right next door and I'm a mom and I just wouldn't hae been able to live with myself if there'd been an incident."

There are several related investigations ongoing and police haven't ruled out laying further charges.

ALERT is a compilation of provincial police bodies that includes Alberta Sheriffs, Calgary Police Service, Edmonton Police Service, Lethbridge Regional Police Service, Medicine Hat Police Service, andRCMP.

This operationconsisted of Alberta sheriffs and Calgary police officers.