Neighborhood Watch Calls for Action Against Alleged Open-Air Drug Nest in Midtown

A Midtown public safety organization has released a report on a suspected “drug nest” located in the 400 block of Ponce de Leon Avenue near Grace United Methodist Church.

The Midtown-Ponce Security Alliance (MPSA) has taken photographs and recorded video of alleged drug transactions outside buildings at 447, 461, and 463 Ponce de Leon Ave., and has noted a significant population of homeless people loitering in the area. MPSA has obtained Atlanta police reports detailing drug possession arrests at the alleged drug nest, and has noted the presence of several criminals familiar to security groups in the area.

MPSA says that people can be seen smoking crack in broad daylight outside Chico & Chang’s at 447 Ponce de Leon Ave. Drug deals are also allegedly occurring on the properties, with suspected buyers parking behind Chico & Chang’s, making contact with one of the homeless people, and then waiting for someone to return to the property. The alleged buyers then drive off, never setting food inside the legitimate businesses on the property.

Employees at the legitimate businesses are not helping matters either, MPSA says. Workers at the Domino’s Pizza at 461 Ponce de Leon Ave. have been observed giving food to the homeless people loitering on the property, and Chico & Chang’s management seems to be doing little to discourage vagrants from setting up camp on their property.

Local offenders such as James Booker, arrested in July for breaking into a car and stealing items from it, and Enoch “Disco” Prince, an aggressive panhandler, have been spotted on the property in recent weeks, MPSA reports. Jackie Sue Hunter, an alleged prostitute which MPSA says has a criminal record going back to 1976, is a frequent visitor to the suspected drug nest.

MPSA has presented a full report to Atlanta police (excerpt here), and is also urging business owners and property owners at the suspected drug nest to crack down on the alleged illegal activities taking place on the grounds.

Watch MPSA footage of the suspected drug nest below: