Mayhem on Walnut Hill Lane and Wickersham Rd. In Dallas, Texas

It was another beautiful afternoon in the Lake Highland area of North Dallas, Texas. Unfortunately there also seems to be a problem with drug dealers, drug users and gang related violence in this part of the city. But has it always been like this in the exclusive Lake Highland area? One resident says that, although it may seem like it has the corruption seems to come and go such as the seasons.

At around 1 p.m. on Thursday November, 29th two men were reported in connection to an armed robbery in North Dallas. It was also suspected that these same two men were convicted sex offenders from Chicago, according to Dallas Police Chief David Kunkle. The suspects were seen walking down Walnut Hill Lane when residents of the area called Dallas police.

One of the callers, whom would like to remain anonymous, said that the only reason why she even called the authorities in the first place is because the neighborhood has been battling an uphill battle with neighborhood drug dealers and users. This woman also reports that she thought the men were acting suspicious and that the authorities should be called immediately.

After police had arrived on the scene, they found in the men's possession a 9mm pistol and over $1,200 cash. They were then connected with a robbery that happened earlier that morning at a 24 hour convenience store, according to Dallas police records.

The two men, whose names where not released to me, were charged with masked armed robbery with a deadly weapon and possession of an illegal, unregistered firearm. Both men are being held in Lew Sterrett Justice Center until their court date on Friday November 30th, 2007.

Another resident of the Lake Highland area told me of the horrors that are seen from her kitchen window. She told of one incident when she saw a woman beaten, robbed and left for dead by three men. This resident also told me of another incident where she found herself in a similar predicament when she left her apartment to go get the mail about 50 feet from her doorstep. "It is horrifying to know that you can't even step foot out of your house without being just a little afraid and worried if you will ever see your family and friends again," she added.

As a former resident of the "exclusive" Lake Highland area, I as well saw some of the chaos that transpired on Walnut Hill Lane. It is not comforting to know that the Dallas Police Department has not even made an attempt to stop any of the wrong doings in that part of the city. Supposedly this area has a higher class of people with a higher standard of living, however, most residents that live on Walnut Hill Lane beg to differ.