Woman claims Benton Harbor elderly and disabled home isn't safe
Posted: Nov 2, 2011 10:02 PM EST | Updated: Nov 6, 2014 1:31 PM EST
BENTON HARBOR, Mich. - A female resident claims she was attacked at Harbor Towers, a government run elderly and disabled apartment building in Benton Harbor. She says it’s nothing new there. The Benton Harbor Housing Commission, who runs the building, says it is safe.
The incident happened October 26th outside the complex in downtown Benton Harbor.
Dominqua Allen is upset because she says she’s not safe in her own home. "You're not helping the disabled," she said. "This is a government owned building. Why are we not safe here?"
Allan is disabled and has lived at Harbor towers for five months. She says she was attacked and robbed in the back parking lot of building and the attacker followed her inside. “He took a big chunk out (of my face). It was bad. At first it was leaking blood,” said Allen.
There are plenty of cameras in the apartment complex. Allen says none of them work. “Somebody could get shot and nobody would know it," she said. "They have cameras that (look like they’re working) but they’re not. Do something about it.”
The Benton Harbor Housing Commission disputes the claim. “If it happened in there we’d have cameras. They're working so that’s not a true statement,” said Ralph Crenshaw with the commission. He said every camera does work and the reason last week’s attack wasn’t on film is because it was off the property where cameras aren’t pointing.
Crenshaw says Harbor Towers is still investigating the claim pending a criminal complaint. He says the complex has a very high level of security. Police officers even roam the halls of the building every day of the week. “Security all over this country is not what it probably should be but with the resources we have available I think we do a fantastic job,” said Crenshaw.
Allen has heard about other attacks. “I'm frightened to walk down the street coming out of a building that’s supposed to be for disabled people,” she said.
ABC 57 requested six-months worth of records from the Benton Harbor Police Department that involve robberies or assaults. Results were not immediately available. Both police and the housing commission said there is a problem with people who shouldn't be in the building getting let in by residents.
