I had seen this place ages ago, at least 10 years ago in fact, but never did get to poke around it's deepest depths. I would get to do that on this fine summer evening, and I'd and just a bit more than what was bargained for too.

As we approach the large hole in the front wall a guy that looks like he should work at a gas station emerges. Unfazed, we walk right in and start doing our thang.

Curiously, Mr. hobo-asshole comes back into the building behind us, and goes past us into a dark corner. We did the usually 'hey what's up?' thing, had cameras out, and made it pretty obvious we were no sorta threat. People who are drunk, drugged and fucked up though, living in such conditions as this - as a rat amongst trash piles and battered car shells, I guess they just don't trust anyone... as we'd later find out.

The building itself was fantastic. a ceiling which once must have been composed of glass, literally, has been smashed into oblivion, thus creating a light filled room on the first floor. Sets lead down to a smelly basement, and up to a second floor, which is the direction we take. From here, one might find a hole into a second large room in the back of the building, where trash is less abundant and streamers hang from the ceiling as if someone decided to throw a party or two in this darkened room.

We climb back out to the front of the second floor, and poke around a little more. I look out the doorway that leads to a set of steps down to the first large room where we entered, and notice 2 bewildered looking cops. I turn from the door and step towards everyone else...

"the cops are here". Saying it was the only way to compute the information. I've never seen cops in a shitty building like this before. What the hell were they doing here? I realized they probably spotted me in the door a second ago, so I turn back and call on down "yo - what's up'? If they didn't look confused before, now they really were. The rookie and the white charted lieutenant march on up the steps (rare that you see the white shirted CO types out and about, especially at such a location). When they get to the top of the steps and the doorway, I improvise the most obvious statement:

"Step into my office gentlemen".

Calm, cool, and collected. It's the only way to be. Any potential negative confrontation is dispelled immediately. What are we doing here/ taking photos. Hello! we've got at least 5 cameras amongst us! All already out in the open.

They give the usually schtick (I suppose) about PCPs, Asbestos, lead paint, and dangerous hobos. I think the only dangerous thing about the hobos around here are that they had to cal them as a proxy defense... for what? as if we'd want to take some hobo's junk. Nigger please! =)

we all walk out and go our merry way. No names taken, arrests, warnings, etc. It was the first, and so far last, time we've ever encountered the police at such a place. Hopefully someday they'll find a reason to drag that hobo in. fucking ball-less hermaphrodite that he was.