PORT ANGELES — A community effort to clean up a field has led to a significant drop in crime in that area, says the Clallam County sheriff.
A 5-acre property at the corner of U.S. Highway 101 and Brook Street North near Safeway had been left undeveloped and was attracting criminal activity, said Sheriff Bill Benedict.
As part of the sheriff’s office’s community policing project, a fence had been installed and the site picked up in June — with much of the work done by nearby business owners and employees.
Benedict said that about 10 homeless people were living on the property earlier this year, some of them in trailers, and the sheriff’s office had received numerous complaints about people using the field to strip cars and use drugs.
The sheriff’s office arrested a few of them on outstanding warrants, he said.
Since the cleanup started in May, the sheriff’s office hasn’t received any reports of illegal encampments or drug dealing, Benedict said.
