A business owner in Echo Park is sounding the alarm about an alleyway behind his studio that’s been taken over by criminal activity.
James Longretta, owner of the post-production facility Digital Vortechs in the 1500 block of Temple Street, says the situation behind his studio started to deteriorate in June when a homeless encampment popped up, one particular “character” moved in and drew all sorts of bad behavior.
“Violence, fires, it’s the worst it’s been in 10 years,” he told KTLA’s Carlos Saucedo. “It’s almost like a drive thru. Cars pull up, they hop through the fence, he hands them the drugs, they hand him the money and they drive away. It’s all day long.”
Even more concerning, the alleyway butts up against a soon-to-be preschool and a park where there’s a baseball diamond.
Footage of the area shows what appears to be a drug deal in progress as a couple smokes what may be meth. In the background, a child can be seen swinging a baseball bat not realizing what’s going on just feet away.
-
Problems of violence, drug abuse and drug sales plague an alleyway in Echo Park . (viewer photo) -
Problems of violence, drug abuse and drug sales plague an alleyway in Echo Park . (viewer photo) -
Problems of violence, drug abuse and drug sales plague an alleyway in Echo Park . (viewer photo) -
Problems of violence, drug abuse and drug sales plague an alleyway in Echo Park . (viewer photo) -
Problems of violence, drug abuse and drug sales plague an alleyway in Echo Park . (viewer photo)
“The smoking of the meth, you see them smoking and if you look through the fence, you can see the baseball diamond. It was the weekend and kids were playing,” Longretta said.
He said he’s contacted the city and called police more than 20 times since the encampment went up in June, but says he knows police have their hands tied.
“[He’s like], ‘Listen, I can arrest the guy, but I’ll bring him to jail at Rampart and he’s going to walk out,” the business owner explained.
Some residents who come to enjoy the park worry the illegal activity has just become a way of life in the inner city.
“It’s not shocking to me,” Echo Park resident Omar Preciado told KTLA. “I had a homeless person start a fire in my alley. I live a couple of blocks away. I had to put it out myself.”
As for Longretta, he concedes that this type of situation is going on everywhere, but he’s concerned about the incoming school and the kids in the park.
“What we’ve seen, I’m shocked no one has been killed in that alley,” he added.
KTLA has reached out to L.A. City Councilman Hugo Soto-Martinez who represents the district and is awaiting a response. a