INDIANAPOLIS — An Indianapolis minister is raising the red flag on safety issues at Washington Pointe Apartments that she said management refuses to address.
"If you look at the lights across here, most of those units are single apartments and all across there those lights have been out for over two years. All they do is twinkle when they come on," Karen Squires said.
Squares is speaking up and calling out the problems she sees every day. Topping her list are the numerous lights in the east side apartment complex that are either burnt out or flicker all night long.
"You see those flat lights on the building? Half of those are out. So it's not safe. Kids go through these tunnels. That's easy to snatch somebody from behind those stairs," Squires said.
She said the lack of light is like a welcome mat for people who are up to no good, especially after a young mother was carjacked at the same complex last month in the middle of the afternoon.
"In broad daylight! So imagine what it's like at night!" Squares said.
It is unclear exactly how many lights are out and what time the lights that do work are scheduled to turn on. Management did not return calls asking those questions, and a security officer asked RTV6 to leave Thursday night when we were talking to Squires.
"When I talked to the office, I asked them is there something that you can do about it. I was told, I don't live here so it's none of my business," Squires said.
Squires does not live in the complex, but she there regularly to check on her sister and a disabled friend. She said she is speaking up for the apartment's paying customers who are too afraid to speak for themselves.
"When you're in low income housing, you don't feel like you have a voice," Squires said. "You are afraid to say anything because you may get mistreated or you don't get respected and it's not fair because they shouldn't have to live like this."
