The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Local News

October 6, 2009

Residents upset about ‘meth house’

By Tina Alvey



RONCEVERTE — A Rush Avenue home from which police removed a meth lab only weeks ago is still the focus of concern in an otherwise quiet neighborhood.

Two nearby homeowners voiced their frustration during city council’s Monday evening session, saying neither city police nor child welfare authorities had adequately responded to complaints about the activities taking place in the house.

On Saturday nights, no fewer than 20 cars are parked in the vicinity of the home, which is occupied by a teenage girl and her grandmother, according to Tom Walker, who also lives on Rush.

Walker said obviously intoxicated teens have attempted to use his lawn as a toilet and a place for sexual trysts. When police swept up the party-goers on a recent weekend, one young girl repeatedly attempted to climb into Walker’s locked Jeep, apparently believing it was her vehicle.

“I’ve talked to DHHR several times,” Walker said, noting most recently a child welfare worker interviewed him at length but then refused to stay long enough to speak to the teens as they exited the school bus.

“It was just 10 more minutes until the bus got there,” Walker said.

In a telephone interview Tuesday, Department of Health and Human Resources spokesman John Law said, while he could not comment on a specific case, “If there were a juvenile at risk, we would take steps.”

Told what had been said at Monday’s council meeting, Law said, “I will pass this information on to the commissioner for children and families, and he will take a personal look at the situation.”

Police Chief Michael Smith said the investigation into the activities at the house is complicated by the fact the alleged offenders are juveniles. For the most part, all police can do when they bust up an all-teen party is turn the children over to their parents, he said.

And that can be done only when they manage to catch the kids. Ronceverte’s police force is further hampered by slim numbers; usually only one officer is on duty at any given time, according to assistant chief J.R. Byer.

Smith confirmed, “They (the teens) run out the back door when we knock on the front.”

Neighbor Rosanna Butler said she counted a single-file line of 10 teenagers running across her back yard one recent evening.

A retired school teacher, Walker said he has begun carrying a loaded pistol in his own home, out of fear of what the teens are capable of doing. “I’m afraid these kids are going to escalate into violence,” he said.

— E-mail: talvey@

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