LOWERTOWN TENANTS EVICTED FROM KNOWN CRACK-HOUSE

A sheriff's office enforcement officer, accompanied by Ottawa police
officers, removed 15 people from two Lowertown apartments yesterday
that police say were known for crack cocaine use.

Officers arrived at the two units at 187 and 189 King Edward Ave. at
about 8:30 a.m. to remove the people inside after landlord George Taza
sought and received an eviction notice last month.

Ottawa police Staff Sgt. Paul Johnston said officers approached Mr.
Taza after receiving community complaints about the residences and
collected evidence about the ongoing drug activity.

Mr. Taza said he originally rented the unit at 189 King Edward Ave. to
three people, but soon discovered nearly a dozen would frequently stay
there.

Police said no drugs were found in either residence yesterday,
although police did find several crack pipes and evidence of recent
drug use.

"This had to be done," said Staff Sgt. Johnston. "The community and
the landlord can only take so much."