Mobile mayor’s weapon of choice in war on drugs: bulldozer

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March 2, 2015

MOBILE, Ala. — Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson signed an executive order Friday authorizing the demolition of an infamous drug den after a large drug bust at the dilapidated building earlier that day.

According to local Mobile paper Laginappe, the Mobile Police Department on Friday arrested 13 people for drug trafficking and possession at 1078 State Street. In addition to the arrests, crack cocaine, marijuana, and cash were recovered at the scene.

“We had 650 documented drug transitions at this location since December. We’ve also made at least 40 undercover purchases from dealers at the residence,” Mobile Police Chief James Barber said.

Seven additional buildings in the neighborhood were raided Friday.

“We’re working throughout this entire neighborhood and before we tipped our hand, we wanted to develop as much evidence on those seven other locations in the area as well,” Chief Barber said.

1078 State Street, which was 3 years delinquent on property taxes, was also fire damaged, and had been assessed as blighted by Mobile Public Works.

Mayor Stimpson acted quickly. The raid was conducted at 11am, the executive order was signed that afternoon, and removal of several outbuildings commenced at 3:30pm.

“As the Designated Code Official for the City of Mobile,” Mayor Stimpson’s executive order said “…I am declaring that the property at the above-named address requires emergency action due to an imminent danger of structural collapse endangering adjoining property, the public right of way or human life or health.”

Stimpson said Friday he believes his actions were necessary to deliver on a promise he made to the neighborhood.

“Once the successful raid was made, our team acted quickly to clear the debris because it was endangering citizens’ lives,” he said. “After walking through this very block with Chief Barber during Christmas, I made a promise to this neighborhood that I would come back to change it for the better. Today, we fulfilled that promise.”

Sandy Stimpson won in improbable victory in the 2013 Mobile mayoral election, handily defeating two-term incumbent Sam Jones. Since winning the seat, he has garnered acclaim for physically removing the door from the Mayor’s office to symbolize the openness of his administration, and traveled the world recruiting businesses to the area.

Two images from last week’s drug house demolitions can be seen below.