Residents in North Houston are raising concerns about a street corner they say has become a center for vagrancy and crime.
Throughout the day, people can be seen loitering around the METRO light rail station and parking lots at Fulton and Cavalcade.
“We’ve witnessed situations where people are trying to stab each other, fighting,” shared Antonio Avalos, a resident.
“They’re using the restroom in public, defecating and urinating on themselves, some even naked,” said Monica Avalos.
Others have reported people engaging in lewd acts and using drugs.
“Just recently, we saw a woman prostituting herself out there,” Cheryl Baxley stated.
Despite multiple reports to the police, neighbors say the issues persist.
The Houston Police Department informed Eyewitness News that officers are managing the situation as best as they can.
“It’s bad when you’re too afraid to get on a bus or even wait at the station,” said Baxley.
Councilman Mario Castillo echoes the concerns.
“Can we get an officer out here to enforce laws against loitering or camping? It’s tough with the current officer shortage, as they’re already responding to high-priority emergencies,” Castillo explained.
To support enforcement efforts, Castillo’s office has allocated $100,000 to HPD for responding to issues in his district. He encourages residents to report concerns on a dedicated website, DistrictHPatrol.com.
“As reports come in, we forward them to HPD, who updates us on the outcome, which we then share on the site,” Castillo noted.
METRO Police provided a statement emphasizing their commitment to community safety:
“The safety and security of our customers, employees, and community are METRO’s top priority. Our MPD Crime Suppression Team and C.A.R.E. Unit are closely monitoring this area. The C.A.R.E. team frequently visits the Cavalcade rail platform and bus shelters, providing resources and support to individuals experiencing homelessness. The Crime Suppression Team, in partnership with HPD, has also carried out joint operations around Cavalcade, Airline, and I-45, resulting in multiple arrests.”
