Laurel R. Boatright, Assistant U.S. Attorney,
Community Outreach Coordinator,
Northern District of Georgia
The English Avenue
Drug Market Intervention (DMI):
An Ongoing Police/Community Partnership
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Vine CityVine CityVine CityVine CityVine CityVine CityVine CityVine CityVine City
English AvenueEnglish AvenueEnglish AvenueEnglish AvenueEnglish AvenueEnglish AvenueEnglish AvenueEnglish AvenueEnglish Avenue
DONALD LEE HOLLOWELL PKWY NW
EL
M S
T N
W
NORTH AVE NW
JA
ME
S P
BR
AW
LE
Y D
R N
W
VIN
E S
T N
W
SU
NS
ET
AV
E N
W
MAGNOLIA ST NW
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504504504504504504504504504
10TH ST NW
11TH S
T NW
3RD ST NW4TH ST NW
6TH ST NW
8TH ST NW
9TH ST NW
AD
DIE
ST
NW
ALEXANDER ST NW
ANDREW YOUNG INTERNA BLVD NW
ASHBY CIR
NW
ATLAN
TIC
DR N
W
BAKER ST
NW
BANKHEAD AVE NW
BAYLOR ST NW
BECK
WIT
H C
T S
W
BEDFORD ST NW
BE
LLIN
GR
AT
H A
VE
NW
BEUTELL ST NW
BO
OK
ER
ST
NW
BOOKER WASHINGTON DR NW
BRAD
Y AVE N
W
CA
IRO
ST
NW
CALHOUN ST NW
CAMERON M ALEXANDER BLVD NW
CARTER ST NW
CE
NT
EN
NIA
L O
LY
MP
IC P
DR
NW
CE
NT
ER
ST
NW
CHESTNUT PL NW
COCA COLA PLZ NW
CU
RR
AN
ST
NW
DA
LN
EY
ST
NW
DALVIGNEY ST NW
DELBRIDGE ST NWDESOTO ST NW
DILLO
N ST NW
DIVISION ST NW
DUNKIRK ST NW
EC
HO
ST
NW
ED
WA
RD
S S
T N
W
EL
EC
TR
IC A
VE
NW
EL
LIO
TT S
T S
W
EN
GL
ISH
AV
E N
W
EN
NIS
ST
NW
ET
HE
RID
GE
ST
NW
FERST DR NW
FLO
WE
RS
PL
NW
FOUNDRY ST NW
FOX ST NW
GEORGIA DOME DR NW
GR
AV
ES
ST
NW
GR
AY
ST
NW
GR
EE
NF
IELD
ST N
W
GR
IFF
IN S
T N
W
HAMPTON ST N
W
HARWELL ST NW
HA
YN
ES
ST
SW
HEM
PHILL A
VE NW
HIR
SC
H S
T N
W
HO
LL
Y S
T N
W
HOME PARK AVE NW
HO
WE
LL M
ILL R
D N
W
HUNNICUTT ST NW
IMA
GE
AV
E N
W
JA
ME
S P
BR
AW
LE
Y D
R S
W
JEFFERSON ST N
WJE
PT
HA
ST
SW
JETT ST NW
JOHN ST NW
JONES AVE NW
JOSEPH E BOONE BLVD NW
JOS
EPH
E L
OW
ER
Y B
LVD N
W
LAMBERT ST NW
LATIMER ST N
W
LE
AC
H S
T N
W
LENA ST NW
LESTER ST NW
LIBERTY COMMONS DR NW
LINDSAY PL NW
LIN
DS
AY
ST
NW
LU
CK
IE S
T N
W
LYNCH AVE NW
MA
NG
UM
ST
NW
MA
NG
UM
ST
SW
MA
PL
E S
T N
W
MARIE AVE NW
MARIETTA ST NW
MARTIN L KING JR DR NWMARTIN L KING JR DR SW
MAYS
ON
TU
RN
ER
RD
NW
MC
CU
LL
OU
GH
ST
NW
MC
MIL
LA
N S
T N
W
ME
AN
S S
T N
W
MELDRUM ST NWMERRITTS AVE NW
MIC
HIG
AN
AVE N
W
MILLS ST NW
MIT
CHE
LL S
T SW
NEAL PL N
WNEAL ST NW
NE
WC
AS
TLE
ST
SW
NE
WP
OR
T S
T N
W
NILES AVE NW
NO
RF
OLK
ST
NW
NO
RTHS
IDE D
R N
W
OL
IVE
R S
T N
W
OL
LIE
ST
NW
ORR ST NW
PA
INE
S A
VE
NW
PEACHTREE PL NW
PELHAM ST NW
PIKE AVE NW
PL
UM
ST
NW
POLAND ST NW
POND ST NW
POND
ERS A
VE N
W
PO
ST
EL
L S
T N
W
PROCTOR ST NW
REYNOLDS ST NW
RHODES ST NW
RICHARDS ST NW
ROCK ST NW
ROSALYN ST NW
SC
IPLE
TE
R N
W
SIM
MO
NS
ST
NW
SIMPSON ST NW
SN
YD
ER
ST
NW
SPAIN PL NW
SPENCER ST NW
ST
ATE
ST
NW
ST
RO
NG
ST
NW
TATE ST NW
TATNALL ST SW
TECH PKWY NW
TECH WAY NW
TE
MP
LE
ST N
W
THURMOND ST NW
TYLER ST NW
UNIVERSITY PL NW
W MARIETTA ST NW
WA
LN
UT
ST
NW
WA
SH
ING
TO
N H
EIG
HT
S T
ER
NW
WESTERN AVE NW
WHEELER ST NW
WH
ITA
KE
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T N
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WH
ITE
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US
E D
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W
Numerous
prior efforts by
law
enforcement
and residents,
yet … open-air
drug markets
continued to
dominate the
English
Avenue
neighborhood.
Looking toward the Yellow Store
on October 31, 2014
The “Yellow Store” at JP Brawley/C.Alexander
Why DMI?
Goals of DMI:
1. Eliminate open-air nature of drug
markets (not eradicating drug use)
2. Return the neighborhood to
residents (improve safety/quality
of life)
3. Improve police/community trust
How a DMI Works:
• Build relationships w/ residents, churches, cops
• Identify/investigate street-level dealers
• arrest offenders w/ history of violence (Tier 1)
• “second chance” for non-violent offenders (Tier 2)
• “call in” Tier 2 and confront with evidence while
providing support from family, law enforcement,
service providers, clergy, and community leaders
First Drug Market Initiative (DMI) =
High Point, North Carolina in 2004
• Since 2004, DMIs in over 35 U.S. cities (i.e. Baltimore,
Nashville, New Orleans)
• Overall = reduction 40-80% in violent crime and drug-
related crime
• Expect about half of “call in” group reoffend
How English Avenue DMI Worked …
1. Community Engagement/Partnership
2. Investigation (controlled drug buys)
3. Intervention• Federal arrests (May 2015)
• Call-in program (June 2015)
4. Maintenance• Ongoing enforcement
• Ongoing “second chances”
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Vine CityVine CityVine CityVine CityVine CityVine CityVine CityVine CityVine City
English AvenueEnglish AvenueEnglish AvenueEnglish AvenueEnglish AvenueEnglish AvenueEnglish AvenueEnglish AvenueEnglish Avenue
DONALD LEE HOLLOWELL PKWY NW
EL
M S
T N
W
NORTH AVE NW
JA
ME
S P
BR
AW
LE
Y D
R N
W
VIN
E S
T N
W
SU
NS
ET
AV
E N
WMAGNOLIA ST NW
000000000
203203203203203203203203203
508508508508508508508508508
504504504504504504504504504
10TH ST NW
11TH ST N
W
3RD ST NW4TH ST NW
6TH ST NW
8TH ST NW
9TH ST NW
AD
DIE
ST
NW
ALEXANDER ST NW
ANDREW YOUNG INTERNA BLVD NW
ASHBY CIR
NW
ATLAN
TIC
DR N
W
BAKER ST N
W
BANKHEAD AVE NW
BAYLOR ST NW
BECK
WIT
H C
T SW
BEDFORD ST NW
BE
LLIN
GR
AT
H A
VE
NW
BEUTELL ST NW
BO
OK
ER
ST
NW
BOOKER WASHINGTON DR NW
BRAD
Y AVE N
W
CA
IRO
ST
NW
CALHOUN ST NW
CAMERON M ALEXANDER BLVD NW
CARTER ST NW
CE
NT
EN
NIA
L O
LYM
PIC
P D
R N
W
CE
NT
ER
ST
NW
CHESTNUT PL NW
COCA COLA PLZ NW
CU
RR
AN
ST
NW
DA
LN
EY
ST
NW
DALVIGNEY ST NW
DELBRIDGE ST NWDESOTO ST NW
DILLO
N ST NW
DIVISION ST NW
DUNKIRK ST NW
EC
HO
ST
NW
ED
WA
RD
S S
T N
W
EL
EC
TR
IC A
VE
NW
EL
LIO
TT S
T S
W
EN
GL
ISH
AV
E N
W
EN
NIS
ST
NW
ET
HE
RID
GE
ST
NW
FERST DR NW
FLO
WE
RS
PL
NW
FOUNDRY ST NW
FOX ST NW
GEORGIA DOME DR NW
GR
AV
ES
ST
NW
GR
AY
ST
NW
GR
EE
NF
IELD
ST N
W
GR
IFF
IN S
T N
W
HAMPTON ST N
W
HARWELL ST NW
HA
YN
ES
ST
SW
HEM
PHILL A
VE NW
HIR
SC
H S
T N
W
HO
LL
Y S
T N
W
HOME PARK AVE NW
HO
WELL
MILL
RD
NW
HUNNICUTT ST NW
IMA
GE
AV
E N
W
JA
ME
S P
BR
AW
LE
Y D
R S
W
JEFFERSON ST N
W
JE
PT
HA
ST
SW
JETT ST NW
JOHN ST NW
JONES AVE NW
JOSEPH E BOONE BLVD NW
JOSEPH
E LOW
ERY B
LVD N
W
LAMBERT ST NW
LATIMER ST NW
LE
AC
H S
T N
W
LENA ST NW
LESTER ST NW
LIBERTY COMMONS DR NW
LINDSAY PL NW
LIN
DS
AY
ST
NW
LU
CK
IE S
T N
W
LYNCH AVE NW
MA
NG
UM
ST
NW
MA
NG
UM
ST
SW
MA
PL
E S
T N
W
MARIE AVE NW
MARIETTA ST NW
MARTIN L KING JR DR NWMARTIN L KING JR DR SW
MAYS
ON
TU
RN
ER
RD
NW
MC
CU
LLO
UG
H S
T N
W
MC
MIL
LA
N S
T N
W
ME
AN
S S
T N
W
MELDRUM ST NWMERRITTS AVE NW
MIC
HIG
AN
AVE N
W
MILLS ST NW
MIT
CHE
LL S
T SW
NEAL PL N
WNEAL ST NW
NE
WC
AS
TLE
ST
SW
NE
WP
OR
T S
T N
W
NILES AVE NW
NO
RF
OLK
ST
NW
NO
RTHS
IDE D
R N
W
OL
IVE
R S
T N
W
OL
LIE
ST
NW
ORR ST NWP
AIN
ES
AV
E N
W
PEACHTREE PL NW
PELHAM ST NW
PIKE AVE NW
PL
UM
ST
NW
POLAND ST NW
POND ST NW
POND
ERS A
VE N
W
PO
ST
EL
L S
T N
W
PROCTOR ST NW
REYNOLDS ST NW
RHODES ST NW
RICHARDS ST NW
ROCK ST NW
ROSALYN ST NW
SC
IPLE
TE
R N
W
SIM
MO
NS
ST
NW
SIMPSON ST NW
SN
YD
ER
ST
NW
SPAIN PL NW
SPENCER ST NW
ST
ATE
ST
NW
ST
RO
NG
ST
NW
TATE ST NW
TATNALL ST SW
TECH PKWY NW
TECH WAY NWT
EM
PL
E S
T N
W
THURMOND ST NW
TYLER ST NW
UNIVERSITY PL NW
W MARIETTA ST NW
WA
LN
UT
ST
NW
WA
SH
ING
TO
N H
EIG
HT
S T
ER
NW
WESTERN AVE NW
WHEELER ST NW
WH
ITA
KE
R S
T N
W
WH
ITE
HO
US
E D
R S
W
Phase 1: Community Partnership
• English Avenue
Neighborhood Ass’n
• Community input
• Training
• Residents/clergy
part of “call-in”
• Building relationships of trust
Phase 2: Investigation
Law Enforcement
Partnerships
Atlanta Police, Fulton Co. DA
U.S. Attorney’s Office and GaNG
Atlanta Fire Rescue
Code
Enforcement/
Atlanta
Solicitor’s
Office
ATFGBIHIDTA
Phase 3: Intervention
Tier 1 - 27 Federally
Charged
Tier 2 – “call in”
18 Invited / 15 Attended
= 45 Drug Traffickers
Social Services Partners
• EANA/EAVC Ministerial Alliance
• Urban League Greater Atlanta
• St. Jude’s
• GRAN Recovery/VP Health
• Integrity, CDC
• Atlanta Mission
• Georgia Justice Project
• Salvation Army-Metro Atlanta
• Families First, Inc.
• City of Refuge
• ITC
• Center for Working Families
• Georgia Works
• Georgia Department of Labor
• Fulton County Health Services
“Call-In” Tier 2 Participants
➢ 4 participated in treatment/counseling/job skills programs
➢ 1 returned to college
➢ 2 left town
➢ 4 not dealing in EA
➢ 1 arrested on unrelated technical parole violation (later received services)
➢ 4 charged federally (2 later received services)
(12 of the 18 “Tier 2” dealers were offered services after call-in)
Phase 4: Maintenance
• Encouraged resident calls, immediate response
• Increased police patrols; APF installed surveillance cameras
• Secured funding for officer OT
• 1 cop only for EA
• 2 Reversals =13 arrests
Maintenance: Properties
Forfeiture complaints filed on 7 properties
(incl. single-family homes and apartment buildings)
(Properties, cont.)
• 2 Properties – Owners sold to investors who plan to renovate
• 3 Properties – Stipulated to settlement with owners, who must abide by strong terms to keep properties drug-free
• 2 Properties – Owners pleaded guilty (one to be forfeited; one donated to Atlanta Police Foundation)
• Still sending notice letters to owners …
690 Cameron Alexander
Before….
As of August 1, 2017...
Maintenance: City Trash Pick-Up
581 Griffin Street - dead body found (heroin overdose)
Maintenance: Demolition
The Georgia National Guard’s Counterdrug
Task Force demolished 15 persistent problem
properties, leaving clean lots with fresh grass
Where We Are…
• Since 2015, almost 40% decrease in violent and drug crimes
• Market is confined to 3-4 hot spots, changed techniques, moved indoors
• Enforcement continues – more than 30 criminally charged since 2015
• Residents actively partnering w/ law enforcement
• Shooting death of 81-yr-old Mildred Martin solved in 3 days
• DMI notes left on carsparked by heroin dealers
(Where We Are…)
• Sending letters to property owners - invite to meet and discuss criminal activity on their property
• Angel nonprofits acting
• Ongoing referral of residents
“in need” to DMI partners for a
“second chance”
Restoration – Giving Law Enforcement a “Second Chance”
Revitalization of English Avenue …
“Yellow Store”
St. Mark A.M.E. Church =
community events/concerts
@Promise Youth Center(previously vacant elementary school)
@Promise
Center
Our English Avenue DMI …