Suits Seek Seizure of Alleged Drug Sites

An anti-drug task force has filed federal lawsuits to seize two properties in South-Central that have a history of drug-related activity and arrests.

U.S. marshals posted seizure notices on the properties Dec. 2 under a federal law that authorizes the seizure of property used in the sale of narcotics, said Asha Greenberg, a deputy city attorney overseeing the case.

The four houses are on two lots, one property at 1776 W. 24th St. and the other at 1284 W. 37th St. across the street from Weemes Elementary School.

Greenberg said that since September, 1989, six people have been arrested on drug-related charges at the 37th Street address, and 20 others have been arrested at the property on 24th Street.

Virgie Lee Brim, 60, who owns the two properties and lives at 1284 W. 37th St. in one of the houses, denied any connection to or knowledge of narcotics sales at those locations. “I don’t know what’s going on,” Brim said after the seizure process had begun. “I rent my house to people and I don’t know what they do there.”

Greenberg said she and Police Department officials informed Brim on April 30, 1991, of narcotics sales in the houses and offered to help her rid her properties of drug dealers. “We’ve done everything possible to warn her,” Greenberg said. “I don’t know how she can say she didn’t know what was going on.”

Greenberg said that Brim’s sons, 26-year-old Donald and 34-year-old Wayne, have been arrested at the properties on drug-related charges. She added that city attorney’s office records show that Brim posted bail for one of her sons.

Wayne Brim was originally arrested in February, 1989, and later convicted for the sale of a controlled substance and grand theft. In February, 1992, he was arrested and charged with possession of cocaine. Greenberg said he was convicted on that charge.

In June, Donald Brim was charged with possession of cocaine for sale and with occupying a building designed for the sale of a controlled substance. Greenberg said that he was convicted last month.

Virgie Lee Brim said her lawyer, Alan Ross, would contest the seizure of the houses. Ross could not be reached for comment.

During a June 28 search of the house at 1284 1/2 W. 37th St., Greenberg said that police found 800 grams of rock cocaine and paraphernalia to weigh and pack the narcotic, a 12-gauge shotgun, a pistol and $10,641.

A criminal investigation that led to the action was conducted by members of the Focused Attack Linking Community Organizations and Neighborhoods, or FALCON, a two-year-old narcotics abatement unit of the Police Department.

A Neighborhood Watch group coordinated by the First African Methodist Episcopal Church informed law enforcement officials of drug dealing at the 24th Street homes, said Mark Witlock, executive director of the church’s Renaissance Project, a community redevelopment effort.

“We (at the church) believe in getting involved. We know if (buyers) see us out there, they will go somewhere else and that will put the dealers out of business.”