Drug houses taking over local neighborhoods

ATLANTA — Drug houses are taking over local neighborhoods -- with undercover buys, search warrants, and even a murder investigation.

While officers continue battling to stop the local drug trade, they’ve hit the same house almost a dozen times.

Atlanta police narcotics Lt. Jeff Cantin says his officers have raided 730 Dill Ave. over and over.

We reviewed the documents connected to nine of the search warrants, covering roughly three years. All reflected controlled crack buys, at least 15 total.

Record suggest one search turned up 91 individually wrapped baggies of crack and a gun. In another, 40 hits of crack.

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Cantin said APD twice asked the Fulton County District Attorney's Office for help getting 730 Dill shut down.

On July 2, Cantin says his frustration hit an all-time high when Vincent Sanders was murdered on the property.

Maj. Adam Lee said Kevin Pate was charged with murder.

"I've been getting high in that house for years," Pate said. "I did not go inside the house to hurt anyone."

Pate said he is not guilty of murder.

In the midst of our investigation, the DA's office filed a complaint to forfeit the home and take it away from the owner.

District Attorney Paul Howard said he's pulling prosecutors from other duties to work part-time on the drug houses, suggesting he doesn't have the resources he needs.

"We need more people to assist us with this," said Assistant District Attorney Christina Peterson.

Howard says his vision is to turn the house into a home for a police officer. He said he's proud of 5053 Delmar Lane, where three Habitat for Humanity homes replaced a forfeited dope house.

Watch Channel 2 Investigative Reporter Mark Winne's full report in the video at the top of the page.

Cox Media Group