Poplar Bluff residents say neighborhood's crime out of control; police step up patrols

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. — A man dropped his pants in front of a teenage girl standing outside her home, a woman was stabbed, homes and vehicles were burglarized and vandalized. This is what life was like two months ago for residents living near the intersection of Park and Ninth streets, a little more than 1,000 feet from Poplar Bluff's Early Childhood Center, which houses about 200 preschool students during the school year.

Police have stepped up patrols and spot checks in the area in the last few weeks, bringing about a significant change in the atmosphere of the neighborhood, according to residents.

Yet the increasing criminal activity in the blocks surrounding Ninth and Park streets is a problem that has been building for years and will take a continuing, coordinated effort of law enforcement and residents to address, according to authorities.

"We've got a constant problem we're trying to live with," said a father who lives in the area but asked not to be named. "My kids are scared to go outside. I can't even allow them outside because of the drugs and prostitution."

Four residents of the area agreed to speak about the problems, but each asked not to be identified because they were afraid of retaliation. Each told of thefts from their vehicles and homes and of being approached by people trying to sell drugs.

Neighbors recently had Municipal Utilities add a another street light to the area, hoping it would deter crime. The day it was put up, people began trying to break out the bulb, they say.

One resident said after problems were reported to police in the past, his family was harassed and threatened.

"People are afraid they will be terrorized by these thugs," said another property owner.

One man said he has started sleeping with a loaded shotgun nearby, while another said he recently purchased a gun for his wife.

While some say they have put too much money into their homes to move, others say the regular problems in the area have made it difficult to sell property.

The neighborhood has just gone downhill in the last few years, said Dewayne Simon, who owned five rental homes in the area until several months ago.

"It seemed like the good people were leaving and the bad people were continuing to stay," he said. "I saw the drugs and prostitution become more and more prevalent. It got to the point where people in my homes were scared to go outside even during the daytime.

"This shouldn't be happening anywhere, but especially not in Poplar Bluff. We're not dealing with Chicago or New York."

It's a problem that has to be addressed, according to Simon.

"If you allow this to happen in one place, it will spread like cancer," he said.

The solution requires a partnership between the residents and the police department, said deputy police chief Jeff Rolland.

"When things happen we need people to call us immediately, and if we don't witness the actual event, we need residents to give statements," he said.

Witness tampering is a serious charge and police will pursue it relentlessly, said police chief Danny Whiteley.

Even if witnesses don't wish to give statements, officers still need to be informed of illegal activity, Rolland said.

"If someone witnesses something suspicious, we need to know about that so we can build that intelligence into our files," he said.

Officers need descriptions of people and vehicles involved in any suspected illegal activity, said Whiteley.

"It comes down to cooperation of the neighbors and police. The people who live there see what's going on first hand," Rolland said. "They shouldn't feel like a nuisance or a bother.

"People may not see an immediate result in an [anonymous] call, but those vehicle descriptions and identifications all help in the long-term investigations."

Whiteley also recommended landlords do more research on their renters.

When he owned property in the area, Simon said, he saw landlords who didn't seem to care who they rented to or what went on in their rental properties.

An attitude like that could lead to a judge ruling a property is a nuisance or to a residence being condemned, Whiteley said. A nuisance property designation requires detailed documentation and would coincide with a long-term investigation, according to authorities.

Whiteley and Rolland warned neighbors need to be careful not to get drawn into disputes with people causing a disturbance in the area.

"They don't need to be part of the problem. The solution is to call us," Rolland said. "They need to be a good witness, not a participant, because those activities can turn violent."

"We just want to encourage residents to keep an eye on their neighbors," Whiteley added. "If you see something strange, call the police. Don't be a complacent neighbor. Watch out for each other's well being."

These problems build over time, and it is going to take time to resolve, Rolland said.