NEIGHBOURS THRILLED WITH DRUG BUST AT CONDO

After a prolonged battle with an alleged drug house next door,
Charlene Marshall is savouring victory.

"It feels like an unbelievable weight has been lifted off our entire
lives," said Marshall, who watched last Friday as the tenant who is
suspected of having drug dealers in his home the last three years was
taken away by his public guardian.

Frustrated neighbours met in October to take back their Kerry Woods
Estates neighbourhood from drug abusers. Up to 40 people aired
concerns about the alleged drug house.

Marshall believes it impressed police that 32 of 34 units in the condo
complex were represented at the meeting.

"Even though they had been keeping records, I don't think they
realized how long it was going on or how many people were being affected."

She recalled that one of the most poignant comments came from her own
11-year-old daughter, who admitted at the meeting she didn't feel safe
in her own home.

Less than three weeks after that community gathering, which was
attended by Red Deer city RCMP Superintendent Brian Simpson, the Red
Deer City RCMP Street Team made a bust at the condo.

A 42-year-old man was charged with possessing crack cocaine for the
purpose of trafficking and the proceeds of crime.

Despite this arrest, Marshall said another man, the main tenant in the
condo, was still free to continue living there. But on Friday that
tenant, who's under the guardianship of a public trustee because of a
mental illness, was taken away to receive treatment.

Marshall was thrilled he's getting help and is not coming back to her
neighbourhood. For the first time in years, her daughter is not scared
to walk home from the school bus, she said.

"She knows he's gone now. They're out of business."

Marshall credits her neighbours for banding together and passing
information on to help police.

She also credits the media for publicizing the problem, which Marshall
believes helped focus attention on the house and spurred the public
guardian into action.

"I took a lot of heat (from some neighbours) for inviting the media.
But I said, "Who organized this meeting?'"

Marshall said each neighbourhood needs to assess the risks of going
public with their local drug problem.

She's grateful for the police action, but wishes laws could be changed
to give officers more leeway in making quicker arrests in known drug
houses.

"It seems like if the (drugs) aren't in plain sight, they can't do
anything."