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March 30, 2009

Death at Eastern Parkway Drug Den

A ground-floor apartment at 201 Eastern Parkway (across the street from the Brooklyn Museum), long a hive of drugs and prostitution according to a tipster, is now a homicide scene. Per the tipster:

On Saturday afternoon two college students from Tennessee went into 1M. On Sunday afternoon one came out on a stretcher, the other in a body bag. According to the cops on the scene, they had OD'd on heroin spiked with rat poison. The guys who run the ring in 1M (the actuall tenant lets them use it in return for free drugs) actually were the ones who called the cops, who said all evidence was gone by the time they arrived. It's not clear if they're going to be able to charge them with murder or not. Guess it depends on if the other kid survives and can testify (I don't know his condition).

A television news van is parked outside right now, but we haven't been able to find any reports online. Any neighbors have more details?

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How do white boyz from TN come across an H Den? Seriously?

Anyone know of any Opium Dens nearby? I always wanted to Chase the Dragon

Posted by: PropJoe at March 30, 2009 9:38 AM

http://www.nypost.com/seven/03292009/news/regionalnews/un_orthodox_web_site_for_jewish_adultere_161868.htm

Bwahahahaha! Losers!

Posted by: PropJoe at March 30, 2009 9:41 AM

Maybe these guy thought is was a candy store.

Soundz like they had some kind of tip or connection. Stuff like this doesn't "just happen"

Posted by: The Who at March 30, 2009 9:53 AM

"heroin spiked with rat poison"

Man, you can't trust dealers these days. Why rat poison... because it's cheap? I mean, dealers don't often want their patrons dead... how about cutting it with some other non-DEADLY chemical? Morons. I hope they go to jail.

Posted by: broadwayron at March 30, 2009 10:02 AM

Seriously, how did two college boys from TN know about a heroin den in Prospect Heights? Is there a sign up somewhere? A package deal on Orbitz? Were they from TN living in Brooklyn, or were they actual tourists?

And what's with the rat poison? I agree, broadwayron, not a good way to keep your customer base.

Posted by: Architerrorist at March 30, 2009 10:04 AM

Brownstoner:

Usually I'm happy to see a familiar street or building from Crown Heights, where I grew up during the 1950s. Not today!

I had friends who lived in 201 and remember it as one of those great places with doormen and heavily carved furniture in the lobby.

In fact, my friends lived on the first floor! (Could it have been 1M?)

The doormen at 201 were pretty casual and, if they knew you, just waved you in. Different from others along the parkway or on St. Marks Avenue who'd go through the ritual of dialing the house phone (an impressive ritual for a little kid).

Even then there were tensions around this building, largely about Lincoln Place just behind it. My friends' parents complained bitterly about the "Shanty Irish" who lived on that street and whom they blamed for noisy partying on the weekends. Apparently, these neighbors were different from the occasional "White Lace Irish" who lived in their building. For me, this was an early introduction to ethnic and class prejudices of the time.

On a recent visit to the Brooklyn Museum, I noticed that some of 201's original Tudor details were ripped off the facade. But the place seemed okay. This news comes as a shocker.

(But it shouldn't, really. New York magazine recently ran a piece about "aristocratic" boys running a drug ring from a fancy Manhattan pre-war. Who buys most of the drugs in this country? The middle and upper classes. Why should it be any different in Brooklyn?)

Nostalgic on Park Avenue

Posted by: NOP at March 30, 2009 10:05 AM

Right, NOP. It isn't Mexicans that are buying all those drugs that are the cause of the shootings down there. it sounds like Clinton understands that and there may be some renewed focus on usage in the U.S.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at March 30, 2009 10:08 AM

actually rat poison is used in a lot of illegal drugs. not sure why. and i doubt the one died BECAUSE it was rat poison in the heroin. most likely it was just a plain old overdose from the heroin itself. it is however crazy the kinds of dangerous situations some people will put themselves in to score.

*rob*

Posted by: PitbullNYC at March 30, 2009 10:11 AM

When keeping it real goes wrong.....

times are hard these days, i suggest all yuppies looking to get high stay in doors and pop pills.

Posted by: Crooklyn at March 30, 2009 10:12 AM

Why are the guys from Tennessee white? That just struck me as an odd assumption.

Anyway... that sucks. If someone can't dabble in hardcore drugs without ending up dead, what's the world coming to!!

Posted by: tybur6 at March 30, 2009 10:16 AM

A tragedy. The jokes above not as funny as posters might have imagined when writing them.

Posted by: Johnny at March 30, 2009 10:19 AM

Hello, I've lived in this building for many years and it does come as a surprise to me that something like this has happened.

As for your tipsters comment "long a hive of drugs and prostitution according to a tipster, is now a homicide scene".

Its not a "hive" of anything. As I said I've lived here many years and while something obviously is going on (this post is case in point) it is not a "hive", far from it - its a great building with a lot of new families.

I was there when two police officers where leaving the building. The phrase "What a mess..." was made with grim look on their faces.

Very sad...

I think the problem is the door men are allowed to waive people through without any checks. You change that and you make illegal activities in this place very difficult.

Posted by: not_a_morning_person at March 30, 2009 10:30 AM

Tragic story.

NOP, I like the background history of the area/building. i'd like to see more of this kind of perspective in current posts.

Posted by: binnyG at March 30, 2009 10:34 AM

This is a doorman building? What's the point?

Has this been reported by any news media?

Posted by: Architerrorist at March 30, 2009 10:37 AM

Not a Morning Person--

I'm a fellow resident of 201 and the original tipster on this story. "Hive" wasn't my choice of words, but I don't think it's a stretch by any means.

The fact is, the police have been called to 1M many times in the past. I've spoken to officers who have been in there. The management company is aware of the problem and would love to get the woman out. But right now, everyone seems powerless to do anything about it. Maybe what happened yesterday will change that.

You're absolutely right--it is a great old building filled with wonderful people. Sadly, there are two major exceptions---IM and another apartment that seems to be headed in that direction.

Anyway, my reason for tipping the story wasn't to knock 201--I love the building too. But I do think it's important that people know about what's happening. Hopefully the increased awareness will motivate the city to get something done. The guys who operate out of 1M are remorseless. Without trying to be too dramatic, unless they shut this thing down, it's only a matter of time until there's another tragedy.

Posted by: oneasternparkway at March 30, 2009 10:56 AM

Wow, this story freaks me out. I live in 201 as well, have been here for over two years and love the building, and had no idea that this had happened the other day. Can you tell us which apartment you're referring to when you say there is another headed in the direction of 1M? I live on the second floor and would just like to be aware of who my neighbors are. Thank you.

Posted by: junebug at March 30, 2009 11:19 AM

I agree with tybur6... why would one assume that two college kids from TN would be white? or that they would be tourists?

as a native Tennessean living in Brooklyn, it deeply saddens me to hear about this. and my thoughts to the other residents of the building. what a tragedy.

Posted by: stmarkssleuth at March 30, 2009 11:45 AM

The rat poison is used to cut H since it contain Warfarin, which is an anti-coagulant. This way, you won't get blodd clots when your shooting up.

Posted by: james_bong at March 30, 2009 11:49 AM

Thanks Johnny for pointing out the idiotic jokes from many posters. It just shows that it doesn't matter what the subject matter is, a majority of posts are lame. As a father of an at risk teen, I find it loathsome. These 2 men from Tenn were sons, brothers of someone. Propjoe, Have fun!

Posted by: Jebby at March 30, 2009 11:56 AM

Junebug--

I don't want to say which the other apartment is since I don't know %100 and to put it in the same company as 1M is now a pretty serious allegation.

but I do know that for the past several weeks people have been hanging out in the courtyard late at night and having conversations with a women who seems to live on the third floor. She sticks her head out the window and yells down to the guys, often about money, cell phone numbers, when so and so is going to get back, how come he didn't bring my five dollars, that sort of shit. i know a lot of people on the front of the building are pissed off, but no one wants to get in a screaming match with these guys at two am....

Posted by: oneasternparkway at March 30, 2009 11:57 AM

Propjoe's only here to make offensive and racist remarks. I wouldn't waste my breath scolding him for it.

This is pretty crazy. I am always totally oblivious to things like this going on around me. I've little doubt I've hung out at bars and been in other areas of the city in close proximity to people using hard drugs, but I've never noticed. What's more, since neighbors often don't really talk in New York rental buildings, it's fully possible that someone in my own building could be selling drugs out of their apartment, and unless their "clients" were particularly unruly coming in/out, I'd never know.

Posted by: cwbuecheler at March 30, 2009 12:19 PM

NOP--

On a lighter note, did the details (red beams) on 201 once cover the entire facade? I've always thought they look very haphazard as they currently are.

and for what it's worth, if you look closely at a rusted sign that still swings from the archway leading into the building, you'll see it's actual name is "The Adelphi."

Posted by: oneasternparkway at March 30, 2009 12:33 PM

Warfarin? Interesting... I've heard of it, but not by that name. Thanks.

Posted by: broadwayron at March 30, 2009 12:44 PM

im assuming most the posters on this board have never been to Tennessee or assume everyone who comes to new york from out of town is white.

dirty

south

ya'll

Posted by: Santa at March 30, 2009 1:22 PM

Only sections of the facade were meant to have the false timber work. The look was "Medieval castle", think Nuremberg Castle and that type of Germanic medieval architecture. One section of it has been disfigured by later cheap repairs. This tragedy is a setback for the whole building. I thought the days of looking across from the Brooklyn Museum and thinking "dangerous block" were over. It always takes more time than one thinks for things to truly change for the better.

Posted by: sam at March 30, 2009 2:02 PM

oneasternparkway, thanks so much for your post- i appreciate it. i feel lucky to have had only pleasant encounters with most of my neighbors here.

Posted by: junebug at March 30, 2009 3:26 PM

Bwahhh... two teens go in, one leaves in a bodybag.

Too f-ing funny.

We need more feel good stories like this.

Posted by: Xander Crews at March 30, 2009 3:28 PM

not that it really matters, but if you guessed that the kids were white, you had an 80% chance of being right according to 2007 census figures. only 17% if you guessed black. i'm guessing asian.

Posted by: jingle mail at March 30, 2009 3:48 PM

This problem is totally because of rent stabilization. In a normal city, such ghetto trash would have been evicted long ago.

Posted by: Polemicist at March 30, 2009 5:09 PM

Polemicist, what a ridiculous and erroneous statement.

Posted by: Montrose Morris at March 30, 2009 5:52 PM

Great statement, Polemicist, and right on the money!

Posted by: Big Jugs at March 30, 2009 7:11 PM

"The rat poison is used to cut H since it contain Warfarin, which is an anti-coagulant. This way, you won't get blodd clots when your shooting up."

Posted by: james_bong at March 30, 2009 11:49 AM

I do not know about heroin, but a friend of ours who had heart surgery was prescribed a drug called "Coumadin" (sp?)
to thin the blood. It is prescribed by medical doctors.
Coumadin (sp?) *is* rat poison, I am told. It is for blood thinning in heart patients. Understandably, many heart patients are looking for alternative medical treatments to rat poison.

This is sad about 201 Eastern Pkwy. Perhaps I can add more about 201 later, but I am one who reads later in the day or evening.

Posted by: BklynSoFar at March 30, 2009 11:12 PM

The building is as safe any in the area. Unfortunately, many buildings (incl. the ones on park ave) have that one apt that's into drugs/prostitution etc etc. If this had happened in Manhattan, it would've been seen as an "isolated" incident.

Posted by: LFCcrown at March 30, 2009 11:26 PM

Brownstoners:

Follow the link to a charming photograph that shows 201 Eastern Parkway as I remember it.

Don't know the mother and daughter in the shot, but they're very much like the people I remember living up and down the parkway during the 50s and early 60s.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jolieg/3368340557/

Notice the winding path, trim hedges and Tudor-style doors, opened invitingly. There's also a flagpole, where the colors were run up during national holidays.

The woman and girl stand under the brick archway leading to the grounds, which helped give a magical air to the place.

The Adelphi was one of my little brother's and my favorite neighborhood buildings, because it looked like a castle. (My family almost moved into a "maisonette" apartment entered through the lawn to the right, but my mother thought the place too eery at night. The pair in the photo could have been her and my sister -- same casual style common among "progressives" at the time.)

Apartment 1M may be a "hive" of drugs and prostitution, but a building Web search identifies at least one artist, an independent art gallery, and a dentist in the building. And back in the 1980s, a hard-working contractor who was inexplicably shot and killed by a police officer in front of his home.

Man! Every Brooklyn building is rich with personalities and stories.

NOP

Posted by: NOP at March 31, 2009 1:58 AM

iseeu: If we or going to chat about it lets do, apt 1M Angela Grooms an so Matthew grooms the fuckup he is! she is known in the neighborhood as a crack/heroin head the 2 biggest fuckups in history!!

Posted by: iseeu at March 31, 2009 2:45 AM

What memories. . .

Take a closer look at that old rusted swinging sign: "Adelphi Hall" is what it says, in Old English type, as I recall.

I was a small child when we moved to 201 EP from 392 SJP, a lived there from 1961-1966.

Over the years, I was saddened to see the gradual removal of the wood tudor detailing, as well as the large "artists" type window embedded in the East Wing's roof slope trim, also long gone as you can see in the photo.

I also remember the carved lobby furniture, including 2 throne style chairs my sister & I loved to sit in & play king & queen.

We were in apt 2K, in the courtyard facing Lincoln Place. We also experienced the blackout off 1965 there (just after returning from Guider Park across the street), with my mother bringing candles to an elderly woman down the hall & to one of the infamous "two sisters" who lived next door. My mother was trying to calm down the hysterical sister, convinced her sibling was "was walking the train tracks somewhere".

There were a lot of kids in the building, & we all did our share driving the doorman crazy running in & out of the lobby.

I also remember the mulberry tree in the front, with the squished berries on the sidewalk every year.

My father took plenty of stills & home movies, so we have some great images preserved.

Just loved living in that "castle"!

Posted by: Gallstoner at March 31, 2009 3:37 AM

What memories. . .

Take a closer look at that old rusted swinging sign: "Adelphi Hall" is what it says, in Old English type, as I recall.

I was a small child when we moved to 201 EP from 392 SJP, a lived there from 1961-1966.

I also remember the carved lobby furniture, including 2 throne style chairs my sister & I loved to sit in & play king & queen.

There were a lot of kids in the building, & we all did our share driving the doorman crazy running in & out of the lobby.

I also remember the mulberry tree in the front, with the squished berries on the sidewalk every year.

My father took plenty of stills & home movies, so we have some great images preserved.

Just loved living in that "castle"!

Posted by: Gallstoner at March 31, 2009 3:42 AM

That is a great photo, NOP.

A few years back, I used a photo of the front of 201, during Winter with snow hanging on the trees, as the cover of our Christmas Card.

"Apartment 1M may be a "hive" of drugs and prostitution, but a building Web search identifies at least one artist, an independent art gallery, and a dentist in the building."

The following professions are also represented: Pastry Chef,
PBS Producer, The Owner of a Successful Clothing Company, Marketing Director, Several Accountants, An Attorney, NY Times Website Designer, A few Actors, A Fashion Photographer, A Shadow Writer, A Music Licensing Manager, A Singer, A sidewalk Bookseller, A Set Designer.

The fact that something like this is on Brownstoner probably means that gentrification is moving further down Eastern Parkway. Because if this happened in a deli on Utica, people on Brownstoner wouldn't even notice.

Posted by: theandrewlee at March 31, 2009 10:35 AM

TheAndrewLee:

Sounds like 201 is still a very interesting place, perhaps even more than when I was a boy, when it was almost exclusively white-collar management types.

Your note will make me look at it differently when I walk by.

What galls me: That the timbers and roofscape were removed and the six-over-six white frame windows punched out and replaced by those ubiquitous anodized aluminum numbers (the plague of New York, causing so many buildings to lose their scale and texture).

Thanks.

NOP

Posted by: NOP at March 31, 2009 12:06 PM

I grew up with the tenant of this apartment, and her story is a very sad one. Jane Doe has been through a lot. She lost her daughter in a car accident while she was driving, and she has been guilt redin ever since. Jane was clean from drugs for seventeen years, and was a working class person just like the rest of us. Jane's family was a loving family, and I was considerd apart of the family too.
It was when her daughter died is when everthing fell apart.
She was a straight A student in college, graduating with a degree in social work, and passed the test for the city to become a social worker. Her exhusband had been filling false claims with the dept of social service about child abuse, which cause her to lose her spot on the social service list, to which she was at number 39. When she thorght that she had the job, she quit her state job and could not get it back. It was a domino affect, one bad thing after another, and that's when the drugs came back into her life. Once in, she never returned to us, only to fall deeper into her sorrow. It has been almost ten years since these happenings. Jane's mother died almost two years ago, only to bring more sorrow into her life. I am so sorry that this had to happen to someone's child, death is no matter to joke about. It can happen to anyone of us, this kind of life. A persons life can change at any moment, and hers is a sad one. I can only say that if she is the cause of someone's child to die, then she should pay the price, to which she is already doing. Jane's mind is alread gone, for I have watched wither away for years. Plaged with diease and drugs, help was just a phone call away, but she was beyond help. From one house of treatment to another, these systems all failed, only God could save. For those of you who think that you are above her, think again, because it can happen to you too at anytime. May God have mercy.

Posted by: revgirl at April 1, 2009 5:53 AM

Revgirl:

Thank you for your friend's story. The city can be a very anonymous place, leading people to make simplistic characterizations of others. Your post made your friend very real.

NOP

Posted by: NOP at April 1, 2009 12:01 PM

Thank you revgirl.I too remember Jane as one of the sweetest people I ever had the pleasure to meet. I moved in the building in 1976 and have known her ever since. She is very close to my family and we have prayed that God have mercy on her soul. She is in SOOO much pain and we all are feeling that pain. We were all crushed by recent events but unless you have had YOUR child die before you(YES, I have had this terrible experience)you don't know the pain Apt 1M is feeling. The kind of person she TRULY is(or was) can be told by myself. You see, whenever I came home from college, she would cook and bake just for me. When my son died at 8 months, She was there for me. In fact, the funeral home told me the day before the funeral if I didn't have his outfit to them by 6pm they would bury him in his diaper. Apt 1M went to the funeral home and waited INSIDE, until I could get there(I made it by 6:45). THAT is just a microcosim of her love. We will always love her as God loves everyone in spite of ourselves. Jesus says we should forgive 7x7x7 times. I pray that the Nasty bloggers remember someone prayed for you and that is why you are where you are. Only God can heal the soul,so keep her and yourselves in prayer. BE Blessed

Posted by: godloveseveryone at April 2, 2009 5:44 PM

I am an old tennant, in fact my father was the supper and we know the family personally. My prayers go out to them and the family of the deceast. Please keep your personal opinions inside for I feel the hurt of each and everyone involved. People get caught up and everyone from one time or another need a shoulder to lean on. Instead of insults be that shoulder. Treat others as you would want them to treat you. God bless all involved. Scooter!

Posted by: sheavonneb at April 21, 2009 12:31 PM

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March 30, 2009

Death at Eastern Parkway Drug Den

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