CITY DUNGEON SHOCKER

Core neighbours shocked by torture chamber

Neighbours in a gritty, inner-city neighbourhood rife with hookers and
pushers thought they'd seen it all - until cops found a torture chamber used
by gangsters on their very street.

"I keep the doors locked most of the time, day and night, because you never
know in this neighbourhood. But with this, I don't know what to think," said
pensioner Lois Dodds. "I just don't know what kind of city we're living in."

Dodds, 73, is one of several cash-strapped retirees and younger struggling
adults living at 11023 95 St. - an apartment building across the street from
the torture room.

City police stumbled on the room - located in the basement of a home - two
weeks ago after a white male was found in the area, injured by what he
claimed was hours of torture at the hands of drug dealers.

The man, described only as in his late 30s, had a bloody gash on his head,
blood in his mouth, stab wounds on his thigh and shoulder, two black eyes -
and duct tape wrapped around his wrists and ankles. He claimed he'd been
bound, stabbed, beaten with an iron bar and had his fingers squeezed with
pliers.

But cops investigating the Nov. 15 incident got nowhere at first because the
victim had given them a bogus address. Subsequent investigation eventually
led to a home on 95 Street and 110A Avenue, where police found a
cubicle-like chamber in the basement.

"It's scary. I didn't know it was that close," said Peggy Collins, a
40-year-old cleaning woman who lives in a suite at 9515 110A Ave.

"This is already a bad area to live in; all the prostitutes, drugs and
pimps," said Collins, who can't afford to move to a nicer area.

"All I've ever seen there is two white guys and other people coming and
going all the time."

In a news release issued yesterday, police said a portion of the basement
was cordoned off by plastic sheeting. Inside, a large hook was screwed into
an overhead joist. Police believe victims were suspended from the hook.

Under the metal hook, more plastic sheeting had been laid down, presumably
"to catch blood and bodily fluids," said police. Blood samples, duct tape
and other items were seized.

The threat of violence has some staying silent.

"It's scary, but I can't say nothing. You never know - they'll think I
report them (to police)," said a local elderly woman who didn't want her
name published. "The neighbourhood isn't in the best area, but at least we
used to know each other."