What is believed to be a dangerous property connected to drugs in Medicine Hat has been shut down by the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods unit of the Alberta Sheriffs.
According to officials since August of 2021 the SCAN unit has received four complaints about the property, in addition to 49 calls the the Medicine Hat Police Service responded to at the home between January, 1st 2021 and September, 6th 2023. With these calls the Sherrif’s unit based in Lethbridge get a court order against the owner of the house, located at 377 4 Street NW, allowing them to close the house down for 90 days and terminate any agreement or lease for the property.
According to Greg Medley, Deputy Chief of Alberta Sheriffs, the partnership between SCAN and the Medicine Hat Police Service is an important part of the “success in dealing with long-standing problem properties like this one.”
“SCAN’s work has a positive impact on the lives of Albertans which drives our teams’ efforts to ensure law-abiding residents feel safe wherever they live,” Medley says.
Medicine Hat Chief of Police Al Murphy adds to Medley’s statement saying that the support from the SCAN unit is invaluable when it comes to dealing with problem properties.
“Together, we have taken significant action towards fostering a safer community,” Murphy says.
The court order allows authorities to close the house for 90 days, which started at 12 p.m. on Wednesday, May 22nd. Until the 90 days is up on August 20th, no one is allowed to go into the house, which will be boarded up, fenced off and all the locks will be changed. The house will be actively monitored while the investigation is ongoing.