Baltimore (WBFF) — A frustrated gas station owner is sharing his concern about a familiar and lingering issue for Baltimore -- open-air drug markets. When he spoke to Fox45 News Tuesday, he singled out three people allegedly involved but says the city is doing little about it.
Muhammad Sajid calls the Shell gas station on Edmondson Avenue near Swann Avenue a hotbed for open-air drug dealing.
Our cameras were there Tuesday when Sajid pointed out a group of suspected dealers sitting across from the store waiting patiently for customers.
According to Sajid, business is done mostly behind the building and sometimes at the front door--even inside the store.
"Mostly at night time, they come inside (the store). We always call the police. I just called the police (today) they didn't come," said Sajid.
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But later, we did see a patrol car in the rear of the building that circled the area and then left. The suspected drug dealers were nowhere in sight.
Fox45 News reached out to police about Sajid's concerns.
According to police, from November 1, 2023, to May 21, 2024, officers responded to 1,786 calls to the gas station--which included calls for business checks and larceny. Police say 73 Controlled Dangerous Substances calls were made, which includes one CDS arrest.
Some residents in the area, they're fed up--including one woman we're calling Ann and protecting her identity.
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"I just get tired of seeing things. I have contacted my council member. I have called the police on various occasions," Ann said.
Fox45 News also tried contacting Councilman Kristerfer Burnett, who represents the area where the gas station is located.
We sent an email to him and his office with questions asking: Is drug activity happening at the shell station; Were you made aware of these allegations by your constituents; And if so, how have you responded to residents' concerns?
As of late Tuesday night, we had received no reply from Burnett...who, incidentally, chose not to run for re-election this year.
Meanwhile, Sajid says what's happening at the station is bad for business.
"We have no business because these guys mess up our business. They don't care, they don't respect (us)," said Sajid.
Sajid says he's also dealing with a number of shoplifting thefts happening inside his store. Something else, he says, that could force him to think about shutting down his business.
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