Brian Sullivan, WABI5; Bangor Public Library dealing with unprecedented spike in crime
"In January and February, Bangor police have had to respond to the library 38 times.
“Everything from fights to drug overdoses, drug possession, some drug dealing, some drug trafficking that appears to be going on right out in open in the open inside the library. We’ve also had some sexual type crimes, sex in public taking place in the bathrooms, suspicion of prostitution,” said Betters.
Officials tell TV5 the increase in these instances at the library have followed the closing of a nearby daytime warming shelter and the end of the funding that utilized the Ramada Inn.
“Think there is a higher level of those experiencing homelessness within the library clearly during the day, and I think we all know that many of them are facing significant substance use disorder issues, mental health issues, and many times cooccurring at the same time. So, it is a challenging population. So, I’m not surprised that there is that number,” said Debbie Laurie, Bangor City Manager.
Organizations that work with this population to try and help find a path forward visit the library multiple times a week.
“Have people who are coming in here because they’re escaping a dangerous situation at home. They don’t have their social security card. They don’t have their ID. They’re going through the bureaucracy of rebuilding their life, and they’re not here causing trouble,” said Treat. “Like if we had 40 people in here at a given time who are experiencing homelessness, I would guess it was probably three, four, or five people who are, you know, a cluster of people who are causing trouble, and we need to respond to that three or four or five people.”"
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