Petworth

Photo by PoPville flickr user Phil

@anotherjonah tweets us:

@PoPville follow up on Aida Electronics post from 12/5, AG Racine’s office says OAG has filed a drug-nuisance case against the owner”

From a press release:

“Attorney General Karl A. Racine today announced that the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) launched a concerted initiative to end the sales of dangerous synthetic drugs in the District and filed an action against a Petworth convenience store for sales of synthetic cannabinoids.

The drugs are sometimes referred to as “synthetic marijuana” because they purport to mimic the effects of THC, the operative chemical in cannabis. However, synthetic drugs often contain hallucinogens and other chemicals and are highly dangerous – and sometimes even deadly – because they are unregulated and inconsistent in their contents. The manufacturers of these drugs often market them to children, with name brands like “Scooby Snax” and colorful packaging bearing images of cartoon characters.

“People may think that something called ‘synthetic marijuana’ is largely harmless – but that’s far removed from the extremely dangerous truth of these drugs,” Attorney General Racine said. “The Office of the Attorney General has launched an all-out effort to end the sales of these chemicals to District residents – and particularly to our children, who are preyed on by the unscrupulous manufacturers and purveyors of these drugs.”

OAG’s Neighborhood and Victim Services Unit has filed a complaint against the owners of 3661 Georgia Avenue NW, where the Amanuel Market operates, under the District’s public-nuisance laws. OAG has also filed Notices of Unlawful Activity against the owners of 800 Upshur Street NW and 3653 Georgia Avenue NW because of repeated instances of selling synthetic drugs. The owners of those properties are working with OAG to comply with the law. Additionally, OAG has filed a drug-nuisance case against the owner of Aida’s Electronics at 209 Florida Avenue NW in Ward 5.

In February, Attorney General Racine joined attorneys general from 43 states and territories in a letter asking nine oil companies to collaborate with their franchisees to eliminate synthetic drugs from gas stations and convenience stores operating under their brand names.”

Photo by PoPville flickr user Mike Maguire

“Dear PoPville,

Scammer:
A man (description: mid 40s, short, chubby, African American) came to my door around 9 p.m. on March 26 claiming to be my neighbor from four doors down. He said he was short $38 to pay for a locksmith. He said the police refused to assist him and bemoaned how they used to back in the day. He gave a generic name (Mr. Nesbit, I think) but I did not recognize him or the last name from my block. Given the various of money-seekers with bogus stories that have come to my house since moving to Petworth I declined to give him any money.

My wife suggested offering to pay with my credit card and telling him that since we were neighbors I trust he would pay me back.

Package Thief:
I saw a man (description: mid 40s, short chubby, African American) pacing in front of my door around 5 p.m. on March 30. He walked away and I went to the door to see what was going on. I saw him casually kicking a box down my steps while he glanced left and right. When he had kicked the box to the gate at the sidewalk I asked him what was up with the box. With the box at his feet he literally said to me “what box”. A back and forth ensued with him claiming to not see it on account of his blindness. He then said he was looking for his friend John’s house and mumbled some address that was four blocks to the north. He kept on with the blind argument, then claimed to be handicapped. He went as far as to produce his “handicap papers” to demonstrate his truthfulness. I picked up the box and he waddled off to the south.

I thought they might be the same man but I cannot say so with much certainty.

I live on the 4000 block of 7th St. NW.”

Another reader reports the same scammer story:

“Middle aged black male, dark clothing, medium complexion, weighs about 290+ pounds,

Talks like he is out of breath, sweating on his forehead, says he is locked out of his house on the next block, his money is inside his house, the locksmith is waiting to open his door but he needs $38’s more to get the door open; begs for the money and says he’ll be right back with repayment just as soon as he gets entry to his house.”