HARRIS COUNTY, Texas – Channel 2 Investigates have learned a troubled apartment complex was the scene of a double-murder Sunday and had 476 calls for service over a 17-month period.
[Latest: 2 killed, 4 injured in shooting at NE Harris County apartment complex]
Haverstock Hills Apartments at 5619 Aldine Bender Road is such a tax on policing resources, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, set up a permanent storefront inside the complex.
A former deputy said that, after hours, there is an unwritten rule that patrol deputies do not enter the apartment complex without backup.
"Two or three units would show up so that one-man unit wouldn’t be by himself, in case something would happen," Ernest Ramirez, a former deputy with 31 years of law enforcement experience, said.
On Monday, some residents staged a protest at the front gate of the apartment complex demanding an empty security booth be manned, and a wide-open entry gate be secured.
"We want to know who you are, what apartment you're going to. We need round-the-clock security for this place," a woman shouted to approaching cars.
KPRC2 asked the local management office about the security gaps, but a manager refused to come out of her office and a receptionist referred us to the corporate management office in Beaumont.
KPRC2 left a message at the number that was provided, but no one has called back as of Monday.
Between January 2015 and June 2016, records obtained by Channel 2 show the Harris County Sheriff’s Office was called to the sprawling property 476 times.
Property management at the apartments released the following statement:
"Equality Community Housing is saddened by this tragic incident. We extend our deepest condolences to the victims and their loved ones. This senseless act negatively impacts Haverstock Hills and our community at large. We have made great strides with reducing crime in our community. We remain committed to our continued efforts to apply all best practices in detouring crime, and work closely with law-enforcement to support their efforts. Being that the two suspects charged with this crime were not residents of our complex, this is a call for greater, more collaborative civic action including Harverstock Hills residents, local community leaders as well as city officials. We will continue to take active steps to help the community recover from this unnecessary violence and sustain a safer environment."
