BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Kimberly Lacey, co-owner of Sheba Foods, takes satisfaction in giving back to the people who reside near her store on Tuscaloosa Avenue in Birmingham.
So she was shocked when I showed her this flyer that had been given to us, referring to her shop as a neighbourhood trap house for buying drugs like fentanyl.
“It’s sad because it’s not true. And I think it’s somebody who maybe came in here that I told they couldn’t do what they say we’re doing, outside,” Lacey said.
Lacey claims that the problem is not within the store. It’s taking place in the parking lot. Lacey claims she phoned the cops, but by the time policemen arrived, they were gone.
“You have cars pulling up and cars meeting each other, but that’s not us. We can’t do anything about it. It happens. I’m not saying it’s not true. We’re not allowing it to go on,” Lacey said.
Crossroads to Interventions is a seven-minute drive from the grocery shop. It’s a drug rehab facility for those who have been sentenced to prison for drug offenses. Twanna Morton, the intake director at WVTM 13, was shown the flyer.
“It’s mind-blowing when half of the people here this morning said, ‘Oh yes, ma’am, it’s right up the street.’ They’re telling me where the store is. It’s frightening,” Morton said.
According to the Jefferson County coroner’s most recent daily report, 265 people have died as a result of drug overdoses this year. They have had two suspected overdose deaths in the last 24 hours.
“We want to get it out of the community. We don’t want our community to be known as this is a place where you can go somewhere that can possibly kill you,” Morton said.
Lacey, on the other hand, says this to drug dealers near her store
Lacey said, “Stay away from Sheba or else you’re going to jail.”
WVTM 13 questioned Birmingham police about the flyer’s claims. They were unaware of it, but claim to have received complaints about it. Lacey said she expects to hire security to help with the parking lot problems.
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