Posted on 03/31/2009 4:45:24 PM PDT by Chet 99
'Habitat' Home Becomes Drug Haven
Posted: 6:06 am EDT March 27, 2009Updated: 2:24 pm EDT March 27, 2009 OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. -- Only Eyewitness News was on the scene when as Kissimmee police moved in to make a drug bust at a home built by Habitat for Humanity.
One of the women arrested at the home is an employee of the Osceola County school district.
Police say that is just one of the several disturbing parts of this story. Eyewitness News also learned that a baby was living inside the home that police raided. Investigators said they found several bags of marijuana stuffed into a can of baby formula. Police collected crack-cocaine, marijuana, and $3,000 cash.
With guns drawn and helmets and bullet proof vests on, Kissimmee SWAT officers raided the home on McLaren Circle (see map) early Friday morning.
Undercover investigations proved that several people in this home were selling drugs including cocaine and marijuana.
"They shouldn't be selling drugs out of a Habitat for Humanity house. This house was given to her and built by people who believe in a program that she is making a mockery of," said Stacie Miller of the Kissimmee Police Department.
The raid is all part of Kissimmee crackdown on drugs and drug dealers. In total, officers arrested six people and loaded them into the back of a paddy wagon.
The Habitat homeowner and accused drug dealer, Annette Bell, was not home during the raid. Police are still searching for her. Records show Bell is an employee of the Osceola County school district, working as a janitor. Police said Annette knowingly allowed her kids, who lived with her, sell drugs.
Annie Brown is Annette Bell's mother.
"She's been working all her life. She doesn't go out here in the street, she doesn't drink, she doesn't smoke, all she does is work," said Brown.
After seeing the report, Bell telephoned the assignment desk at Channel 9 and said that this was all a lie by police. Kissimmee police said that they are confident Bell was dealing drugs out of the home. Bell did not reveal her location to Channel 9.
"We hit this home three months ago and [we are] back out there again. So we are trying to make a statement as well. They think they're making a statement. We're making a bigger, louder and more powerful statement," said Miller.
Chardae Brown's boyfriend was one of six people arrested.
"No this is not a drug house, not in the house. Coming in and out of the house, 'Oh what you want standing at the door what you want,'" said Brown.
The homeowner may end up losing her home. The decision could be made as early as next week.
Habitat for humanity said they do not monitor families day to day actives.
"If there is documented illegal activity at that residence we would take that under legal council and discuss that with our legal board. We do have a clause in our mortgage that we can take the home back," said Patt Filiponne of Habitat for Humanity.
There is a warrant out for Bell's arrest for keeping a home for the purpose of selling drugs.
The incident is the second time the home has been raided for drugs within the past four months.
OTHER DRUG RAIDS IN SAME NEIGHBORHOOD
On Thursday, during drug raids in the same neighborhood, police uncovered heroin, crack cocaine, illegal pills and marijuana.
Kissimmee Police made several arrests after they searched three homes on Person and Columbia Street.
"I wish I could never did that favor for my friend, I regret doing that favor, now that friend's not even here to help me out," said one arrested suspect.
Thanks to tips and undercover work, officers knew where to look.
Police say they took several hundred of dollars worth of drugs off the streets.
What makes this news is that it is just one person.
Probably a gardener......of what?
When you give free houses to lowlifes—what on earth do you expect??
I would wager this isn’t the first habitat house that has dopers living in it.
She put the HABIT in habitat
Another progressive liberal success story, kinda tugs at your heart don’t it?
“They shouldn’t be selling drugs out of a Habitat for Humanity house.....” said Stacie Miller of the Kissimmee Police Department.
Just what kind of house does the PD feel it’s OK to sell drugs out of?
HUD homes, habitat etc are all homes cheaply made where those who get them usually turn into or are wasters.
They all need to be stopped and if someone is serious about getting a house then they will work and save .
I met a Mexican woman who has 2 villas in Mexico, her sister does and her father does.Back over there they have money.
She has a house from habitat because when she filed the forms she never told them all about her money in her country.
funny how she could file forms and yet can’t speak a word of English even though she has lived here for years.mmmmmmm
Time to stop Carters idiotic plan
they were to build 7 homes down the road from here. We tried all the channels to stop it but seeing as the Doc from the middle east owned the land it was all above board and no one could stop him.
Now the Doc who got his degree back in the middle east not here gets the Govt to do this with him and then hires a cowboy who never had a license and had just got out of trouble
when he refused to listen to the neighbors he pretended his English wasn’t that good and put the phone down.
6 months later the contractor goes back to jail for another 15 years(he’s a life long criminal and scumbag), the Doc is out of pocket and is trying to get his money back for building the road but the contractor is broke and filed for bankruptcy
It happened to a set of folk who deserved it especially as he tried to run over my wife and my oldest child
I pity the neighborhoods these homes are erected in! There is a reason that usally the worst homes in neighborhoods are these homes and rentals. When you don’t have to earn things they just don’t mean much to you.
Where’s Jimmy Carter to comment on his humanitarian project?
I thought they screened these Habitat owners. I thought they had to help with sweat equity in helping build their houses. Maybe I’m wrong. I guess low life type people can get a house out of the deal and use it for illegal things.
Hi yoh!!!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.