Neighbors Speak Out About Crime Uptick

A nearly 250-unit apartment complex that abuts the Palm Desert Country Club has come under fire from neighbors who want to see the number of reported crimes there reduced.

Three women from the Palm Desert Country Club Association brought their concerns about the Desert Fountains at Palm Desert to the city’s Public Safety Commission Wednesday

“The crime log is clearly showing there are numerous arrests there for the amount of apartments that are there as opposed to the entire Palm Desert Country Club community,” said Phyllis Harkins, Association Manager at the Palm Desert Country Club Association.

She said there has been a spike in recent months in the number of reported arrests for felony warrants for parole violations, narcotics and spousal abuse.

Commissioner Rick Lebel suggested that the city send the owners a letter suggesting that they participate in a crime free housing program “to lessen the effects of the crime potential in that neighborhood.”

Commissioner James Butzbach suggested that the city put the owner “on notice that this is a high crime rate area,” and if no action is taken to keep out the crime the city would force “asset forfeiture.”

Commissioner Marty Nethery encouraged the commission to ask city staff to talk to the city attorney and speak to the police and fire department.

“We don’t really know what we can do,” Nethery said.

Palm Desert City Councilwoman Cindy Finerty, who sat in on the meeting, asked the commission if police could step up patrols in the area.

“Why couldn’t we take a certain period of time and put some of the resources in that area and really turn up the heat to make them uncomfortable and so that they will do what they do somewhere else,” Finerty said.

Lt. Andrew Shouse told commissioners that police have been by the apartments and did not find any code enforcement violations.

“In regard to tenant screening, it appears they need to do a better job in doing that,” Shouse said. “… It’s that they are leasing it to someone and that person is inviting a felon or some other member of the criminal element whether it be for the day or over the night.”

Work together

The manager of the apartments, Brad Taylor, who did not attend the meeting, told Patch he has been working with law enforcement and the property has a crime-free housing agreement with tenants.

“If a crime is committed on or near the property, I can evict someone,” Taylor said, adding that he reports crime as he sees it and performs background checks on tenants.

He said that he has noticed an evicted tenant hanging around in the area, but he cannot control who comes and goes.

“I can only control what happens on my property,” he said.

Taylor said that Serna & Associates, a local security company, patrols the property.

“If they (the PDACC Association) would like, we are willing to join in and work together on the neighborhood watch program,” Taylor said.

Tenant complaints

Several tenants living at the apartments also told Patch that they have noticed an uptick in crime, but mainly because of a group of teenagers that live at the end of the property.

“I think they say they do a background check, but obviously the background check is not that good because there is people that move that they are over here. There’s at least the drug scene and smoking pot everyday,” a woman, who lives at the Desert Fountains and wished to remain unnamed, said.

She said she got a dog and is afraid.

Another man, who also wished to remain unnamed, said his bike was stolen from his patio.

“There is a lot of kids around doing drugs, selling it,” he said.

He said that his neighbors reported items stolen, cars broken into and other problems.

“I went to talk to the manager because I asked him if I could break my contract because I want to move out,” he said.

Speaking up

Phyllis Harkins, Association Manager at the Palm Desert Country Club Association said the activity is making neighbors uncomfortable.

“The police activity there is ongoing. Many of the units across the street are winter rental units that people rent out. You have people from Canada and all parts of the country saying why are all these police over there? What is wrong with this place?” Harkins said.

She said the crime filters through the entire community.

“There’s activity out of the apartments. There are gangs hanging out on the coroner at the intersections of the apartments. If you follow them, they all trace back to the apartments,” she said.

By speaking up to the Public Safety Commission, she hopes to raise awareness of the problem.

What has been your experience on or near Michigan Avenue? Share your story with us in the comments below or email us at palmdesert@patch.com.