U. City Councilman Suggests 'Taking' Known 'Drug House'

UNIVERSITY CITY, MO — University City Councilmember Bwayne Smotherson suggested the city "take" what he called a "known drug house" on Plymouth Avenue in the city's third ward at a council meeting last week.

"I spend the holiday week...doing something very interesting, and that was, I traveled around the third ward and I spoke with residents," he said. "I wanted to bring this to the city manager's attention, but I also wanted to say this publicly, because I want everybody to know the way that some people live in the third ward."

Smotherson said he was given a tour by a resident who pointed out "drug houses" throughout the city.

"We went by a drug house on the 6800 block of Plymouth," he said. "We went by a drug house on the 7000 block of Julian. We went by another drug house on the 6800 block of Plymouth. We went by a house where they know they do home burglaries on the 6900 block of Plymouth."

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"This is a well-known house that sits on that corner, and this is known for years," he continued. "It's been brought to this council's attention. It's been brought to the police department's attention. ... I actually went to the 6900 block of Plymouth, and an elderly gentleman told me, 'Every time they gather on that corner, I will not leave my wife at home alone in the evening."

Smotherson said he wouldn't name the specific address, but seemed to give enough detail to make it obvious. Adding that residents know who is committing crime in their neighborhoods better than the police, he demanded a solution.

"The house on the corner or Plymouth has been talked about for years, so the only option that I want to discuss is how we take that house," Smotherson said. "That's it. I don't want to discuss anything else. What I want this council to do, not the police — because it's time for this council to take action and make our neighborhood safe. And that house would be the perfect start for that process."

University City police wouldn't corroborate Smotherson's specific claims, but encouraged residents to report any crime they believe is happening anywhere in the city.

"The University City Police Department continuously allocates resources to address quality of life issues throughout the city," said Capt. Fredrick Lemons in an email to Patch. "We continue to ask for the public's assistance in helping the police department protect all of our neighborhoods. Citizens are frequently encouraged to call the police if they believe ANY type of nuisance or criminal activity is afoot."

Smotherson explained after the council meeting the reason he believes the police have been unable to act.

"I think it's because, it's the family relationship, that's the reason why," he said. "Meaning, it's not the person that owns the house, it's somebody that's living in the house that is a family member."

Patch also asked the councilman to explain by what means the city could take the house. Smotherson said it would be up to the council and city manager.

"What I would actually think the city needs to do is take action to somehow remove them from that house — take over the house, is what I mean, somehow, by whatever means necessary. And I don't want to speak on that, because it would be up to the city manager what action we would actually take."

But Smotherson seemed to walk back his comments somewhat when asked what sort of due process would be involved in taking someone's home and refused to say specifically whether he wanted the city to invoke its power of eminent domain.

"I don't mean that we would just take their house. I don't mean anything like that. But what I mean is that we come up with a creative way to assist them if we can, and somehow make an offer that they would appreciate, and then we could actually agree on something and move forward in that process," Smotherson said.

Photo by J. Ryne Danielson/Patch