East Campus Neighborhood Association
Information for Residents and Owners in East Campus
BEAT BYTE: Criminals Swamp Benton-Stephens 8-Plex
News Briefs from the Columbia Heart Beat
http://columbiaheartbeat.blogspot.com
COLUMBIA, 2/9/09 (Beat Byte) -- For one of the most stunning examples yet of how repeat offenders return home to commit crime after crime, again and again, look no farther than 1411 Wilkes Blvd., a small apartment building in the Benton-Stephens area.
With nearly five dozen resident arrests for a long list of major offenses during the last decade, the history of violence at 1411 Wilkes Blvd. exploded Jan. 25 in a SWAT bust that netted allegedly stolen computers and weighing scales for illegal drugs.
At the property itself, "we've had six police reports since Nov. 16 and three other reports for the rest of 2008," said Columbia police officer and crime free programs coordinator Tim Thomason. In 2007, four reports of crime on the premises brought the owners a chronic nuisance property warning from Thomason's office. Past years brought several warning letters to the owners about illegal drug activity. But those warnings don't include what residents do off the premises.
Owners Gregg and Amy Morgan purchased the eight-unit complex in March 2005 with help from a $602,000 mortgage from First National Bank (FNB) of Columbia. The mortgage, which includes another property, was refinanced at FNB in 2008 for $770,000, according to public records on file with Boone County. The Morgans and FNB then consolidated the note last December with several other properties for $1,520,000.
With former Emery Sapp and Sons VP Roland Bartels, Gregg Morgan also owns a chain of Tiger Car Washes and the Briarcrest Apartments at 105 N. Garth. He did not return a telephone call for comment on this story.
In the four years since the Morgans purchased the Wilkes eight-plex, authorities have made 30 resident arrests, or an average 7 arrests per year, nearly one every other month. Apartment residents have also endured two fires.
In the seven years prior to 2005, authorities made 25 arrests, including 26-year-old resident Robert J. Barney, who murdered 20 year old Deandre Terry in the first homicide of 2005, critically injuring another man. In a terrible irony, when police went to arrest Barney at his grandparents' home, his grandmother Ora May collapsed and died of a heart attack. Barney, who wasn't there, surrendered on hearing the news.
The long history of chronic offenders who've taken up residence at 1411 Wilkes is striking: Frank Sherrell Butler, arrested six times for drug trafficking, assault, and parole violations; Kenneth Eugene Butler, arrested seven times for assault, unlawful use of a weapon, and armed criminal action; Buffy Nichols-Kramer, arrested five times while hiding out from various out-of-county warrants; Natasha Deeanne Hunter, arrested five times, for property damage, trespassing, and parole violations.
In many cases, the offenders posted bond and the courts released them, only to see them re-arrested for more serious offenses. In several other cases, service of out-of-county warrants makes 1411 Wilkes look like a hideout, for crooks on the run from the law.
Property owners like the Morgans can and should get involved, Thomason notes. "It's the same old story, screening tenants, active property management, knowing who is really staying on your property, and taking action when you can no matter how small the issue."
RELATED:
http://archive.columbiatribune.com/2006/jul/20060715busi001.asp
http://www.carwashmag.com/pdf/oct_2006/ThisTigerIsRoaring.cfm
http://columbiaheartbeat.blogspot.com
COLUMBIA, 2/9/09 (Beat Byte) -- For one of the most stunning examples yet of how repeat offenders return home to commit crime after crime, again and again, look no farther than 1411 Wilkes Blvd., a small apartment building in the Benton-Stephens area.
With nearly five dozen resident arrests for a long list of major offenses during the last decade, the history of violence at 1411 Wilkes Blvd. exploded Jan. 25 in a SWAT bust that netted allegedly stolen computers and weighing scales for illegal drugs.
At the property itself, "we've had six police reports since Nov. 16 and three other reports for the rest of 2008," said Columbia police officer and crime free programs coordinator Tim Thomason. In 2007, four reports of crime on the premises brought the owners a chronic nuisance property warning from Thomason's office. Past years brought several warning letters to the owners about illegal drug activity. But those warnings don't include what residents do off the premises.
Owners Gregg and Amy Morgan purchased the eight-unit complex in March 2005 with help from a $602,000 mortgage from First National Bank (FNB) of Columbia. The mortgage, which includes another property, was refinanced at FNB in 2008 for $770,000, according to public records on file with Boone County. The Morgans and FNB then consolidated the note last December with several other properties for $1,520,000.
With former Emery Sapp and Sons VP Roland Bartels, Gregg Morgan also owns a chain of Tiger Car Washes and the Briarcrest Apartments at 105 N. Garth. He did not return a telephone call for comment on this story.
In the four years since the Morgans purchased the Wilkes eight-plex, authorities have made 30 resident arrests, or an average 7 arrests per year, nearly one every other month. Apartment residents have also endured two fires.
In the seven years prior to 2005, authorities made 25 arrests, including 26-year-old resident Robert J. Barney, who murdered 20 year old Deandre Terry in the first homicide of 2005, critically injuring another man. In a terrible irony, when police went to arrest Barney at his grandparents' home, his grandmother Ora May collapsed and died of a heart attack. Barney, who wasn't there, surrendered on hearing the news.
The long history of chronic offenders who've taken up residence at 1411 Wilkes is striking: Frank Sherrell Butler, arrested six times for drug trafficking, assault, and parole violations; Kenneth Eugene Butler, arrested seven times for assault, unlawful use of a weapon, and armed criminal action; Buffy Nichols-Kramer, arrested five times while hiding out from various out-of-county warrants; Natasha Deeanne Hunter, arrested five times, for property damage, trespassing, and parole violations.
In many cases, the offenders posted bond and the courts released them, only to see them re-arrested for more serious offenses. In several other cases, service of out-of-county warrants makes 1411 Wilkes look like a hideout, for crooks on the run from the law.
Property owners like the Morgans can and should get involved, Thomason notes. "It's the same old story, screening tenants, active property management, knowing who is really staying on your property, and taking action when you can no matter how small the issue."
RELATED:
http://archive.columbiatribune.com/2006/jul/20060715busi001.asp
http://www.carwashmag.com/pdf/oct_2006/ThisTigerIsRoaring.cfm
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