Crazy Situtation

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Waffen

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Before I start this story a little background info is needed. I am a 19 year old college student living in Austin, TX. I have grown up in a upper class neibhorhood my entire life. I reacently moved out of the neibhorhood and into the ghetto of Austin, TX (East Oltorf). I have been at my complex for probably 6-7 monts now and up until now nothing super crazy like this has happened.

The other day, I come home start walking up to the second floor where my place is, I notice that my downstairs neibhoors (directly under me) are apparently adding a person to their lease, because they are moving in. I don't really think much of it, nothing wrong yet.

Before the move in of said guy, there was a black couple living there, probably mid 20's-late 30's with a child. I never really talked, or had any interaction with them at all. I had walked past the black guy before and he was smoking a joint on the stairs, and they somtimes drank outside their place. This would obvously already bother some, but I don't really care all that much, whatever this guy wants to do on his own time is up to him.

Back to the new guy. The same night the roomate moved in the music started, constant loud bass from some sort of god awful rap until 3am that morning. I let this slide, thinking its just somone "breaking in" their new place. It was not somone just breaking in their place, it has continued non-stop since then. It has shaken my flag, and a wall sign off my wall. It also happend to be the stars and bars wich they knocked off.

Next morning, I am outside enjoying my morning cig. and I see some of the new guys assumed "friends". Keep in mind these guys are hardcore thuggin ghetto people (Fro complete with comb). While sitting there as quite as I would be in a deer blind witness a buy/sale of 3 rocks of crack cocaine from the guy who just moved in while I was just sitting 5-6 feet away. It was obviously crack, there is no question in my mind.

I am sorta freaking out now. Pot and beer are one thing, crack is a whole nother.

This has been going on for days now, quick visits to the appt of some scary looking people. Usually somone just runs in the appartment while somone else sits in the car.

I am a little too scared to try to talk with these people face to face. To start off with, the 2 males of the appartment are roughtly 6'3" in the area of 350-400lbs and some mean looking dudes, and you also have to account for all the friends always over at the place, and weapons they might have. I am 6'5" 280lbs and pretty big/strong myself, and they have me shaking in my boots.

I have talked with a few friends and the general consincus is to not do a damn thing. These guys are freaking crazy! I fear that if I talk with the appartment manager, or call the cops, they will find out it was me and I might either have to fight one of these guys or kill them.

I have resorted to loading my Win 1200 with 5+1 04 Buckshot and carrying in every room I am in just incase something crazy ever happens. I am also brining my Mini-14 from the parrents place over aswell.

My question to all THR'ers is what would you do in this situation? Keep in mind a conversation with these people is probably out of the question. I can hardly understand them when they are just talking normal, let alone drunk and angry (Wich they seem to be all the time). It is also hard to tell when sombody is home or not, because they all share the same 86' fleetwood caddy and the music is always on, and somebody is always going in or out.

Help! I don't want to have to kill somebody comming to my place confusing me for the crack dealer, and I don't want to have to kill any crack dealers. Anytime soon at least.
 
Move out as soon as possible.

(you can use the end of the school year as an excuse if you need to have one)

Good luck
 
Call the police station (not 911) and tell them exactly what is happening. If they bust them with crack in their possession, you will never hear from them, or the cops again. Don't worry about anything, the only place thugs like that have "moles" in the police station waiting kill innocent witnesses is on TV.

In fact I doubt the cop who arrest's the men even know who called it in.

You are in more danger NOT doing anything and awaiting whatever may happen.
 
Man, I can sympathize!

I lived on East Riverside for 3 and a half years (from 1999-2002).

Pretty bad place, compared to the rest of Austin (compared to a real ghetto, like, say, 5th Ward in Houston, it's not so bad :uhoh: )

Best advice would be to look into changing apartments as soon as possible. Given the housing market in Austin right now, you can get apartments in nicer parts of town for not much more than SE austin prices.

I observed occasional criminal activity while living over there, and took a live and let live approach.

I also bought my first gun not long after moving in to that area.

Try to move ASAP, and let the police and apartment management know about what was going on as you're driving off.
 
wait untill after 10pm, call the cops about the noise and tell them about the drugs. apd will have a party with these guys.
 
Agree with Greg L, move out asap. This is a no win situation and you simply have no other options. People that smoke or sell crack don't have any regard for themselves, much less anyone else. I also would not bring the Mini-14 into the picture and hide your SG when you are away, don't be surprised if you come home some day to find your stuff has been gone through. I don't know your reasons for moving into this place but I discovered a little trick when I was younger and single and an apartment dweller that might prove useful. Before I would rent an apartment I would go there mid-morning and check out the parking lot and then go back at night and do the same thing. If I saw several cars there at all times I knew that there must be a large percentage of renters that did other things besides honest work for their money. I also have opinions as to certain types of vehicles which I won't get into so as not to offend anyone but parking lots with a large percentage of well maintained economy cars gone at either of these times indicated young responsible people that are just getting started and being conservative in their choices. You may not agree with this but believe me, I can go to any apartment complex and by doing this give you a very accurate overall profile of the tenant population. BTW, this is in no way racially or ethnically prejudiced, it is an across the board observation.
 
IMO get a pen/paper and write down everything you have seen. Any details such as car Lic/time date/cash seen/drugs seen. DON'T go LOOKING just what you see in daily life. IF it was possible to stick a vidio camera in window (hidden) I might do it. At same time get out of lease and move. Give all info to Police as you leave. Keep copy in case apt wants to keep deposites because you left before lease up.
IF you have something invested in neighborhood your actions will be different.
 
Here in "progressive" :rolleyes: California, Landlord-Tenant Law requires "quiet enjoyment of the premises" as an integral component of the lease contract. If that provision is breached (even by another tenant, over whom the landlord has control) the lease is invalidated. Until you are able to move, complain to the management. If the management resists, explain "constructive eviction" and "breach of contract" to them.
 
I have to take exception to the idea that you immediately call the police. Before doing that make an assessment of your neighbors and how many of them would likely call the police. If after doing this you determine that you are probably the only person that would do so be very careful. It isn't that difficult to determine who "snitched" on you given limited choices. These people will retaliate if they even think you are the one who turned them in. I would wait until you get out and then call the police.
 
Call the apartment manager and tell them that their loud music is offensive, disruptive, and the third tenant is probably not on the contract. If that doesn't work and you see any signs of overt aggression coming from them call the po's. Meanwhile arm yourself, use your spider sense, and don't freak out. You said they were 'mean-looking' I'm sure a lot of THR'ers are 'mean looking", but have they seemed hostile to you? Just asking.

atek3
 
I have to take exception to the idea that you immediately call the police. Before doing that make an assessment of your neighbors and how many of them would likely call the police. If after doing this you determine that you are probably the only person that would do so be very careful. It isn't that difficult to determine who "snitched" on you given limited choices. These people will retaliate if they even think you are the one who turned them in. I would wait until you get out and then call the police.
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This is what I am worried about. I am under the impression that the apparement right next to them is vacant. I would then be the only neibhoor "touching" their appartment. It also dosn't help that every once and a while on the show "COPS" one loose lipped cop tells them who called. "The people above you called because your music was too loud."

Also, what happens if I do call the cops and they bust in the peoples appartment and they catch them in a dry spell, what if they only have a little pot, and thats it. Then I am truly a dead man.

My parrents and friends of theirs have told me to call the cops, but I think many peolple don't really understand the world these people live in. Like I said these are not your average tennate even in the ghetto, these people are ghetto rats, they are some hard core guys (dew rags, colts jerseys, and blue shoe laces).

I would call the cops, but there are so many ways it could go horribly, horribly wrong. I really really really don't want to come home one day and have these guys waiting outside because I sent them to jail, and CPS took the kids from his girl friend. These guys could literally crush my skull in one hit.

My lease is up in November and I can't afford to break the lease, but I just don't know how much more sleep deprevation and crazyness I can take.
 
So, walk down the street to a pay phone, and call 'em up...

"Yeah, I was walking by this place, and I saw a (insert description here) who was selling rock coke to a (insert description here). Then they went inside the apartment, and are still there."
 
My old hood....

First, don't flip out, definitely will not help the situation. I saw some crazy stuff in that neighborhood and keeping a calm attitude never served me badly. Leave the Mini-14 at home you are better off with the shotgun, Austin is liberal enough that using one in self defense would definitely not help your situation! Also, property crime is a reality in that area, and it's just one more thing to steal.

I lived off of Wickersham Ln during college (95-98) and know the Riverside / Oltorf neighborhood well. Can you be more specific about your location? Are you living near Burton Dr? What complex? (Hopefully not English Aire) Some parts of that area are MUCH worse than others and I had a number of friends make 1/2 mile moves that greatly improved their situation from a security standpoint. I had a gun pulled on me by a group of drug dealing thugs who got on the bus in that area, and thankfully got off not long after.

If The Hills at Chevy Chase on Wickersham is still renting to students I HIGHLY recommend checking them out. Older community, nicely landscaped, great staff, and lots of long term residents that CARE about the living environs. I never had an issue living there, the parking lots are mostly in front of the buildings and well lit, only heard about minor property crime. I also met two nice girls while living there. :D If you have some financial flexibility get OUT of SE Austin and check out the Far West area, it has UT shuttle and is located in a much better part of town. I live off Spicewood Springs currently and it's like living on another planet compared to Riverside.

To those recommending contacting apartment mgmt..... SE Austin is pretty treacherous from a landlord standpoint, I've heard of serveral cases where mgmt was activiely participating in apartment burgalaries. Heck, I knew people who paid a portion of their rent in drugs. This may not be a wise course of action. Austin is not a renter's market, especially in that area, I had to get on a list months in advance to reserve my place.

I think Finals are over, which means some flexibility to look around and evaluate your options. If you need any help, a ride, whatever PM me and I can help you out.
 
do you guys want waffen to get get shot? he will if he goes around writing down what happens and setting up hidden cameras.

waffen's situation is the same as those who move to a new neighborhood by an established range and complain about the noise. the ghetto isnt all rainbows and puppies. you knowingly moved there so deal with what happens in the ghetto or move out. if you just mind your own business then you will be fine. if i were you i would buy some 40's as a house warming present and introduce yourself. if they offer you drugs just tell them you dont got a problem with them it just isnt your thing.

seeing as how you live on a different floor you wont have to worry about being mistaken for the dealer especially if you are white.


these people are ghetto rats, they are some hard core guys (dew rags, colts jerseys, and blue shoe laces).
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that doesnt necessarily mean anything. that is the trend in hip hop so a good amount of black and even white people dress this way.
 
I would NOT even think about talking to the apartment manager since he would likely tell them about the situation. I would call the drug task force for the police and tell them. You police probably have a silent witness program also which you never even give your name.

MikeJ's advice is very good about seeing who else it could be from. You dont want to set yourself up.

The other thing you coyld do is have the police call the apartment manager and say that these people are bothering a resident and see if he would take care of it that way. Just make sure that you are not the only person who would be complaining. Otherwise you might have a big ass target taped to your back.
 
I lived off of Wickersham Ln during college (95-98) and know the Riverside / Oltorf neighborhood well. Can you be more specific about your location? Are you living near Burton Dr? What complex? (Hopefully not English Aire) Some parts of that area are MUCH worse than others and I had a number of friends make 1/2 mile moves that greatly improved their situation from a security standpoint. I had a gun pulled on me by a group of drug dealing thugs who got on the bus in that area, and thankfully got off not long after.
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I live off Douglas (by WanFoo, some vietnameese cafe, and clicks billards) in the "Bristol Square" complex. The turn off to English Aire is the street before mine if you are heading east.

I am really bad with street names, and I don't know the name of the street English Aire lies on but that is the craziest part of oltorf no doubt I ma the next block over. The APD Vice squad is there on a daily basis, I saw 3 members of what looked to be SWAT running accross the street with AR's the other day.
 
Bogie's advice to call from a pay phone is a good idea.

I also have to agree with the suggestion that you move out, ASAP.

The only other thing I can add is pretty obvious: carry everywhere and stay alert.
 
Your best, and maybe only, option is to wait until your lease is up and move out. I'm in a very similar situation and that's the route I've been forced to follow (if I can find anything cheaper that is). I tried calling the police and they just didn't want to get involved. They visit my building at least once a week and I've never (in the past nine months or so) witnessed them making an arrest. They almost did for a domestic once, but were "tricked" by the guy and his two buddies leaving through the opposite set of stairs.

You can try calling the cops, but it will only work if the department is halfway serious about enforcing laws. You might as well wait it out.
 
that doesnt necessarily mean anything. that is the trend in hip hop so a good amount of black and even white people dress this way.
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Yes, I would generally agree, however it is bothersome that they are continually dressed in blue, or at least ALWAYS have a blue article of clothing on. They wear a bunch of colts, and houston oilers jereys (I hope its just them idlolizing Warren Moon.)


waffen's situation is the same as those who move to a new neighborhood by an established range and complain about the noise. the ghetto isnt all rainbows and puppies. you knowingly moved there so deal with what happens in the ghetto or move out. if you just mind your own business then you will be fine. if i were you i would buy some 40's as a house warming present and introduce yourself. if they offer you drugs just tell them you dont got a problem with them it just isnt your thing.
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It's not just the drugs thats the problem, its the noise and vibration. I just don't know how well it would go over if I introduced myself and then asked them to turn down the music.


By the way, anyone know what hood rats perfer? Mickeys or Old English 800?
 
whatever is cheaper. might as well throw in some swisher sweets too.

oh and forgot to say you should avoid wearing gang colors. if they are always wearing blue its probably a gang thing. i cant remember who wears that color though. do their jerseys always have the numbers 13 or 31?
 
Waffen,

That is definitely one of the harder portions of the Riverside area, most of the folks I know who lived off Burton (Where English Aire is) moved out after a semester. I almost moved into that area, but my mother called the police for a crime report after driving around and FLIPPED OUT at the response, so I ended up a bit farther west. I think she was instrumental in having UT remove complexes in that area from the recommended housing list. I even loaned a wheelgun to a girl I dated who lived over there a couple of years ago.

I'm sorry to hear your lease is till november, I know how expensive it can be to break one around here. Not sure where you are going to school, but it may be worth talking to the Ombudsman and seeing if they can help you negotiate an early exit to your lease. That's what student services are for, I knew a number of people who resolved lease disputes and roommate difficulties using the UT Ombudsman's office. Failing that talk to your folks. If they think you are exaggerating the situation, feel free to have them contact me I can personally attest to the dangers of that area.

My goal would be to get out of there ASAP. Again, if you need assistance feel free to PM me.
 
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