possible drug dealers on our street - legal questions

boyohboyohboy wrote: About a month ago, two large vans full of the swat team pulled up in front of a house about 5 houses down from us and all these cops got out with vests that said swat and their guns and there was a lot of commotion on the street. But the same people are there...still.

so this is my question..the last few weeks there has been a large blue car that comes up and down the street, loud, loud music, full of guys, and turns around in our cul de sac, we live in the middle of the cul de sac, and then pulls right up in front of this house, there are about 6 guys that get out there daily, and sometimes more then daily, they pace around here all the time..
can I call the police and tell them I am concerned? should I get the license plate number? would it help?
can they do anything just because they are around alot?

I assume what ever was going on out there that they are still watching the house, but I just think I would feel better if I knew someone was watching and knew what was going on.

jakesmommy08 replied: ABSOLUTELY! The more info you can give the police the better. Make, model, year, color, Plate number, maybe get a good look at the guys. We have a drug dealer house kiddy corner to us and our cops told us that they shouldnt really bother us, people go there for one reason, to get what they want and leave. so people arnt really hanging out there n causing problems. They also told us that if we see any thing supisious to call them, and that if we see cars that go there and are there a few minutes and leave, to get the plate number. You can call the non emergency number and just tell them that a few weeks ago the swat team was there, you dont know what was going on but that this car full of guys is always there and driving up n down ur road. They will probably send a cop out just to check up on things. Hopefully they arnt causing you to much trouble. Good luck!

boyohboyohboy replied: my biggest concern is that these guys are going to get into a fight and start shooting in our cul de sac..my kids and many kids play here.

I also hate to come across racist, they are blacks and they all have on the same color head bandana's, they look like they are up to no good, they seem to scan the area both driving around and also when they are standing outside the house..I see them from inside my garage because thats where I sit to watch the kids play each day...

I am just so worried about all the kids that are up and down the streets near the house..alot of the families here dont speak english we have tried to start up a neighborhood watch, we have 8 surrounding houses near us who all leave our outside lights on to try to ward off trouble, but we havent been able to get the other families involved.

I dont want to upset the police, I want them to be concerned too.

Kentuckychick replied:
Ask yourself this... if this were a group of white kids with bandanas acting the same way, would you have the same concerns? (I think I already know the answer )

Just because these are black guys doesn't make you a racist and it certainly doesn't make you sound racist in my mind. You are genuinely concerned about your children and the other kids in the neighbor and I would be too. I definitely think it would be best just to give the police a call (I'm sure they have a local non-emergency number you can call). They'll either tell you they're already on the case or you could be giving them information they have no idea exists.

coasterqueen replied: Yes, call the police and yes, get the license plate number. There is no reason not to at least try for the safety of your children.

my2girls replied: As a Neighborhood Watch Block Captain I say YES!!! Today if you can.

You don't know how many times our police advisor has said that AFTER a crime has happen witnesses would say
" Yeap, I saw a strange car ( or person) the other day and then again earlier today but I didn't think to call you guys"

They rather have people call and it turn out to be nothing then not call and something happened and you have a piece of info about persons or cars that might have been involved in it.

moped replied: 100% yes you can!

luvmykids replied:
They can't really do anything for just hanging around, but who knows....if they patrol a few times that car might stop coming, or they may be looking for a vehicle with that same description related to something else.

They're public servants, employed by you. Make use of them.

youngmomofone replied: They sound like gang members if they are having the same color bandannas (that's how the gangs around here are). I would definitely call just so they can have a heads up. I really hope they don't cause any trouble there.

My2Beauties replied: White guys can wear the same color bandanna's too though and look just as suspicious, I hope you don't think I'm calling you a racist I don't think you are, but any car full of guys with same color bandannas is suspicious not because they are black guys. Also the bandanna thing is old....lots of people wear bandannas simply to match what they are wearing. Now if it don't match and they're all wearing the same color then yes....in this case I know they are, but bandannas are not necessarily a sign of gang affiliation anymore.

Please don't take offense to what I said, I do not think you are a racist In your case, I'd keep an eye on them and maybe give a license plate #, but I wouldn't get much more involved. If the people that live there are younger, they may have friends that stop by a lot or family members. I'm just playing devil's advocate because I'm not sure what the police can do. You do have a right to be concerned but I just hope you aren't worrying yourself over nothing.

boyohboyohboy replied:
I am not offended.
I dont know if they are gang members or not, but it definately seems strange.
the same behavior is going on. They all wear these dark black bandana, no matter what else they are wearing.

The same car keeps going by day after day, and it is full of people, At least 5 people at a time, and it comes and goes all day..and this one house had it not been already busted by the swat team then I dont know if I would be as concerned., as I am.

I know that no matter if they had bandanas on or not, or what race they were, or if they were women, that house was already had the cops there.
I just hope the cops at least take it into consideration.

My2Beauties replied:
I'm sure they will, if you're that concerned, for peace of mind I'd call!

redchief replied: Call. If you feel uneasy, you probably have good reason. Those kids aren't house-hunting.