EVICTIONS IN WORKS AFTER DRUG SEARCHES

The Columbia NAACP Leader Says Residents' Civil Rights Were Violated.

Dan Fletcher is taking action after Tuesday's drug search in Columbia
Square Townhomes.

Drug dogs sniffed each front door of the 128-unit complex and some
apartments were searched. Fletcher, the property adviser, said some
drugs were found, but he would not state the type or amount.

On Thursday, Fletcher said he hired a lawyer and will file civil
lawsuits seeking the eviction of tenants found to have illegal drugs
in their apartment.

Although no drugs were confiscated, Fletcher said, the items were
documented and photographed by officers with Metropolitan Patrol, a
private security company based in Kansas City that Fletcher hired to
conduct the searches.

Fletcher said he opted to hire the private company because he wanted
to create a drug-free environment for residents at the
government-subsidized housing complex.

"I just want to give the residents a safe place to call home,"
Fletcher said. When asked if he would conduct the drug searches again,
Fletcher replied, "Absolutely."

Although Fletcher said he is trying to provide safe and sanitary
housing, some Columbia Square tenants are not happy about the searches.

All residents in the 128-unit complex received a flier June 27 stating
"the management will be conducting random unit inspections throughout
the property." Some residents and Mary Ratliff, president of local and
state NAACP, believe there is a difference between a search and an
inspection.

"I don't consider an inspection a search," Ratliff said, "and it seems
to me that there was a violation of their civil rights."