Everett police crack down on high-crime area dubbed ‘Tweakerville’

The Everett Police Department is cracking down on an area known for its prolific drug crime.

RELATED: Homeless people respond to ‘Tweakerville’ label

Officers with the department’s Anti-Crime Team arrested 16 people at Clark Park and along Smith Avenue over the course of three days last week.

“Our community members should be assured that Everett Police remains committed to using targeted enforcement to respond to the challenges on our streets, particularly drug activity,” said Chief Dan Templeman. “Enforcement is a critical part of our approach, which also includes outreach and referrals to programs like work crew and PAARI, when appropriate. For those who are not open to services and continue to commit crimes, we will hold them accountable for their actions.”

Along with the arrests, officers followed up with orders that will prohibit offenders from being in designated areas where a high amount of drug trafficking occurs.

According to Everett police, 16 people were arrested at the park and along Smith over the three-day period.

The area that became the focus of police attention last week is the same that included “Tweakerville” along Smith Avenue. A stretch of Smith gained national attention when a business owner started a live stream that focused on the sidewalk where people gathered daily. The live stream returned on Tuesday.

“By golly, I think we’re going to take back our city … The police department has always tried to help us. In my area they made numerous arrests,” Gary Watts, the owner of Z Sports and person who started the live feed, told KIRO Radio’s Dori Monson.

Officers have kept an eye on the area and made arrests in the past. It was recently noted by Everett Mayor Ray Stephanson and Police Chief Dan Templeman that despite the hundreds of arrests made between November 2015 and December 2016, “most of those arrested for drug offenses or other minor crimes are quickly released from jail.” However, many of those continue the same behavior when they are out of jail, according to the statement.

“The problem is we’ve got so damn many addicts here,” Watts said. “You can clean up a park or you can clean up my area [near Z Sports], and three days later it fills back up again. So we have to cut down the number of addicts in our neighborhoods, otherwise, we’ll never get rid of the problem.”

Listen to the entire interview with Watts here.