Fed up resident displays warning bordering on vigilantism

Downtown neighbours concerned Some downtown residents say they are fed up and taking matters into their own hands. CTV Windsor’s Bob Bellacicco explains.

Pelissier Street resident Alex felt he needed to get attention about his concerns over downtown “drug users and thieves.”

He decided to display a fair warning to property intruders by posting a sign on his porch that says “Drug users and thieves will be attacked. No police, No warning, No mercy.'

"I got tired of kicking people off my property while they were doing drugs or trying to steal and they would attack me," he told CTV News. "They seem to think that it's okay to, you know, behave the way they do around here and it's affecting our lives too much."

He lives near the Downtown Mission. His neighbours, like Nick Amlin, understand all too well the frustration that led to the sign.

"OD's, violence, drug dealing, fights in the streets, fires set in the alley, fires set in the street, people walking around with hammers and knives just mumbling to themselves, yelling at the sky," Amlin explained.

He has lived on the block for two years and says prior to the Mission moving in he made zero calls to Windsor Police. Since June 2, 2022 he says he has called police at least 200 times.

According to Alex, Windsor Police have seen the sign.

"Some have reacted positively," Alex said. "Some have said you know, it might not be the best message to give, right? But, I mean, I've always responded the same. We don't have too many options because no one else is coming to help us."

CTV reached out to the Downtown Mission who did not want to comment on the matter. Windsor Police was not available to chime in but councillor Renaldo Agostino says he has a recent conversation with them about the situation and confirms enforcement will be stepped up.

"And make sure that we're going to be able to be in a position to succeed once that extra funding comes down (from the province) to help with shelters, deal with some of the addictions crisis's that are happening here. Deal with the open drug use that really bothers people in this neighborhood."

Amlin is hopeful. "Any support that the Windsor Police wants to offer is absolutely welcomed by just about everybody in this community."

In the meantime, Alex is considering changing the sign with a softer, but stern message.