Fed up Detroit business owner calls cops on dumper leaving trash on Land Bank properties
DETROIT (FOX 2) - Dumping in Detroit has been a long-running problem - and one resident and small business owner has had enough.
"You can't go across Eight Mile and dump, so don’t come over here in our neighborhood and dump," said Deon Allen.
It’s simple calculus for Allen who claims these guys have been illegally dumping in the foundations of burned-out houses on Hamburg just north of E. McNichols for the past few weeks.
"They get the dumpsters full as they rent them out, and at nighttime, they back up over to these holes where there were two, huge basement holes, and they throw all their trash in the holes," he said.
An alley separates the makeshift dumping ground from Allen’s repair shop Motor City Muffler.
"I've got a business to run and I see rats running through because of this here," he said.
He called Detroit police when he spotted Alex Olgate of Champion Dumpster at the lots behind his shop Thursday.
"I was under the impression that this was all the owner of this land's land," said Olgate. "Because we were told to push it that way so we could have this land open because like I said, it was all forest, all garbage all kinds of stuff here."
Alex Olgate of Champion Dumpster.
Olgate says he had an agreement with the owner, Mohamed Alsinai, to clear it out.
But Alsinai says he never hired Olgate there was no such agreement in place.
"I did not know that the owner of the land did not own that land," Olgate said. "It was not my intention to do wrong."
FOX 2: "Did you think you were illegally dumping?"
"No, absolutely not," Olgate said. "We’re pushing trash."
Right onto the Landbank’s property, it owns these lots. The two burned-out houses there are currently in demolition review.
Olgate says he plans to clean up the trash he pushed there.
Deon Allen of Motor City Muffler said he's had enough of dumping.
"What we’re hearing is that in the dark of night, this illegal activity is going on," said Second Deputy Chief Rudy Harper, DPD. "And as you can see in the surrounding area, it’s kind of cloaked by tall trees and bushes. We’re happy that residents here saw something and called us and we’re able to respond."
Officers will return to review surveillance recordings in the area. The Land Bank says it does not allow any dumping on their properties.
To email the Detroit Land Bank CLICK HERE.
For more information on Detroit police GO HERE, and dumping, HERE.
For locations that take trash, see below:
Southfield Yard – bulk & yard waste
12255 Southfield
Open Monday – Saturday
April 1 – October 31, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
November 1 – Mar 31, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Davison Yard – bulk & yard waste
8221 W. Davison
Open Monday – Saturday
Summer hours: 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Winter hours: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
J. Fons Yard – bulk & yard waste
6451 E. McNichols
Open Monday – Saturday
Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Saturday, 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.