CLARKWATCH: Follow news and updates regarding sanctions on Mayor Clark.

Homeowner of notorious drug house found dead

Jul 28, 2017 | 4:33 PM

 

MEDICINE HAT, AB — The owner of a notorious drug house on the southeast hill has died.

A family friend confirmed to CHAT News that William Jussila overdosed Friday morning.

Members of the Medicine Hat Police Service and the Alberta Sheriffs seized the house at 390 Aberdeen back in September 2016.

It sits across the street from a daycare and other small businesses.

Over the last eight years, police had been called to the Aberdeen address numerous times, mainly for drug activity.

The keys were returned to Jussila in December but was seized again in May when drug activity resumed at the house.

Inspector Brent Secondiak with the Medicine Hat Police Service would only tell CHAT News that they were called to the home at around 6 a.m. for a medical incident.

Secondiak said that even when the house was returned to Jussila earlier this year, the complaints from neighbours didn’t stop.

A family friend, who was very close with Jussila’s mother, Martha, told CHAT News she witnessed Jussila abuse his mother. She asked to not be identified, saying she is afraid of Jussila’s friends.

She said he was addicted to drugs and always played the victim.

“He’s like a Jekyll and Hyde. He can be exactly what you want to see,” she said. “He was such a bare-faced liar and he’d lie with such a straight face. He was so underhanded and so nasty. I really, it’s an awful thing to say, but I really, I’m glad he’s gone. That’s the only way I can be honest about it.”

Secondiak told CHAT News that changes will be happening in terms of the house ownership.

The family friend said she’d like to see the house torn down.

“My hope is the house will be locked up and possibly even demolished. It’s not fixable. That house is not fixable,” she said. “It’ll be nice to see another building go up on that lot and some peace and quiet in the neighbourhood. The neighbours have put up with an awful lot. An awful lot.”

Secondiak said police did everything they could within the confines of the law to help Jussila, leading up to this point.