LANDLORD ORDERS SEARCHES FOR DRUGS

Tenants Say Their Rights Were Violated, But The Landlord Says He Was
Entitled

Johnathan Porter, 19, was sleeping Tuesday morning when he heard knocking at
his front door. Porter looked out the window and saw his landlord, a private
patrol officer and a German shepherd.

"The officer told me the dog took a liking to my door," Porter said.

Porter said he was told the dog, a certified canine narcotic handler,
sniffed and scratched the green front door, which indicated the dog smelled
narcotics in the apartment at Columbia Square Townhomes.

When the officer asked Porter if he could search the apartment, Porter told
him "no." Porter said that's when he was given a choice: If he didn't allow
the search, he would be sent to court for the proper procedures - possibly
eviction. When Porter heard the word eviction, he signed a consent form to
let them search.

Tenants at the 128-unit complex, even those who did not have their apartment
searched, are angry because they said their rights were violated. But Dan
Fletcher, the property supervisor, said he had the right to go in the
apartments.

While Porter sat outside his apartment, Fletcher, the officer, and the
German shepherd searched inside for narcotics. They returned after about 10
minutes to tell Porter what he already knew - there were no drugs in his
apartment.

Some apartment residents peered out of their windows. Others walked outside
to see if there was a problem. Tenants, like William Lewis, said their
privacy was invaded.

"I understand where they are coming from because they are trying to get rid
of the drug problem, but I think there is a better way of doing it," Lewis
said.

Fletcher, the Columbia Square Townhomes property supervisor, said he was
handling the situation in a fair way.

Fletcher contracted two metropolitan patrol officers and two certified
canine narcotic handlers on an hourly rate through a private security
company called Metropolitan Patrol, which is based in Kansas City. The dogs
sniffed at all the apartment doors, but most units were not searched.

"I had the right to go in the apartments as long as I gave the residents
24-hour notice prior to the search," Fletcher said.

That notification was a green flier given to all Columbia Square residents
on Friday, stating that the management would be "conducting random unit
inspections throughout the property" on July 1.

Fletcher said he doesn't understand why people are upset.

"I am just trying to provide decent, safe, sanitary housing and give the
residents a safe place to call home," Fletcher said.

While Fletcher and Maj. Greg McQuade, one of the officers involved in the
searches, said drugs were found in the apartments, they would not comment on
the specific amount.

"I was pleasantly surprised on how few drugs were found," Fletcher said.

The drugs found were documented and photographed, McQuade said, but no
arrests took place. McQuade said the company is not allowed to confiscate
drugs during the search, but he said the police are normally notified.

But Sgt. Bryan Piester of the Columbia Police Department Narcotics Unit said
he was unaware that any drugs had been found, and Chief Randy Boehm said the
police were not involved in the search.

First Ward Councilwoman Almeta Crayton said she is looking at both sides of
the situation.

"I wanted to make sure their (residents') rights were not violated," Crayton
said.

The Columbia Square Townhomes are owned by Yarco Co., but tenants receive
government subsidies from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development.

Fletcher said the drug search was funded through the Columbia Square
security budget. Although he wouldn't state exactly how much it cost to
contract the Metropolitan Patrol, he said it was "well worth it."