Illegal block parties are apparently continuing to cause issues in and around Benton Harbor. The gatherings are often late at night and early in the morning on weekends, using public and private property without permission, noisy, and underage alcohol and drug use is involved.
Local law enforcement have been working to squash the parties when they learn of them through tips and social media, but area business owners say they keep popping up. Bill Crowder at Signature Toyota on East Napier Avenue said he’s been in regular contact with the Benton Township Police about the issue.
“I’ve been here 35 years and over the last 12 months, I’ve had more incidences than I’ve had the entire 34 years combined,” said Crowder.
Just in the last year, Crowder said such parties have cost him $20,000 in damage to new inventory and as much as $100,000 total damage to property on the company grounds. He said he understands the police are short on resources, and the community needs to help law enforcement know when and where the illegal block parties are happening.
“These things need to be reported when they’re happening, while they’re happening. We need to say something quickly, as opposed to waiting until something else happens. We’ve seen things in this community and other communities across the country where people end up losing their lives over something that started as a small block party.”
In May of this year, a block party in Benton Harbor on Fair Avenue and East Main Street ended in gunfire and one person was killed while at least two others were injured. No arrests have been reported in that case.
Three weeks ago, Detroit’s mayor announced a four-step plan to address recent violence at neighborhood block parties, including a new “neighborhood response team” within the department specifically focused on stopping such gatherings.
Local law enforcement officials have not yet responded to inquiries for comment.
