SPOKANE, Wash. — While violent crime rates are down in most areas, there’s been an uptick in incidents in the West Central neighborhood, and for one resident, Heith Carlton, he sees theft, threats of violence and drug use at the home next door.
Carlton has lived in his West Central home for four years. He originally lived next door to an elderly couple.
When the couple both died within the last year, their home, Carlton claims, went to their son.
“It started to turn into a drug house where people are coming and going,” Carlton said.
He told NonStop Local he believes over ten people are living inside the home.
The issues started just months ago.
He claims he has seen fights and drug use.
“I found needles on the sidewalk in front of my house…I’ve seen them smoke in the van…I’ve seen them smoke in cars in front of my house,” Carlton said.
All of the issues came to a head in March when one of the people at the home allegedly threatened Carlton.
“Somebody threatened to beat me up outside the house,” Carlton said.
This was his first time calling Crime Check about the issues at the home next door.
“Nobody showed up at all. They said they will just put this in the report,” Carlton said.
He continued calling Crime Check. He claims he called ten additional times.
“I called 911 finally after they [the neighbors] stole my motion lights…The police finally showed up after I kinda yelled at them. They were like ‘Oh, we’re going to put you through Crime Check.’ I’m like ‘Nothing is happening when I’m calling you guys through Crime Check!’,” Carlton said.
“They [Spokane Police Department] may be just in the beginning of that documentation process.” Lt. Terry Preuninger, with the Spokane Police Department (SPD), said. “Sometimes we will be able to identify criminal activity that we can put a stop to right then and there. Unfortunately, other times, we are going to simply build a process of documentation,”
According to SPD’s Citywide IBR report, violent crime and property crime in areas like downtown Spokane have decreased year-to-date from 2023.
However, in Precinct 2, where the West Central Neighborhood and Carlton’s home is, violent crime is up 17.14% and property crime is up 22.19%.
“It is often not a complete deterioration of a neighborhood. It is unfortunately a few individuals, or a few individual homes, that are attracting a lot of other criminal activity that comes in, and then creates those numbers,” Lt. Preuninger said.
Carlton told NonStop Local he remains scared for his safety while he is at home or anywhere in the neighborhood.
“I was told…by one of the people that lived in the neighborhood…’This is Felony Flats’,” Carlton said.
