Eastham explained that over the last few months, the department got a lot of complaints about drug dealing near Water Street, Broadway, and Minnesota Street. About three months ago, two of his new officers, Ryan Miskell and Allan McComas, requested to undergo a special operation to crack down on the drug crime. The week of June 15-21, the two officers made the six arrests and confiscated 26 grams of methamphetamine and paraphernalia worth about $450.
“The guys really put their all into it and they did a good job. It’s a very thorough job for some guys that technically are rookies,” Eastham said. “It just shows that we weren’t being insensitive to the situation. We knew it was going on and with the new crew I got, they really took ahold of it.”
During the Council comments, Councilmember Bunny Williams explained that he got a firsthand view of South Bend Police work recently. Late one night officers tracked down a drug suspect that was hiding between his fence and garage. They later found a total of one-fourth of an ounce of meth and a pipe.
Two citizens stood to discuss issues at the Sunday Market on the Docks. First, Rosalind Pousette informed the Council that the public restrooms near the docks are in disarray and need to be cleaned. “I didn’t realize we had a problem. That will be taken care of. . . I really appreciate you bringing that to our attention,” Mayor Julie Struck responded.
Second, Hayley Goodwin, a participant of the Market on the Docks voiced her appreciation of John Edwards, who helps organize the events. “We really appreciate being down there. Those of us that do it regularly feel that John [Edwards] does a really good job. We really like being down there,” Goodwin said.
City Supervisor Dennis Houk reported that the project on Cedar Street will be completed within the next month. He also said that the new mower arrived and it has a five-foot hedge trimming blade. “You’ll see it going down the road taking care of mosquito habitat,” said Houk.
The next South Bend City Council meeting will take place Monday, July 7 at 5:30.