Where are panhandlers the biggest problem in Dayton? We have a map

Abigail O’Neil, holding a sign at the intersection of Stewart Street and Patterson Boulevard, pulled up her sleeves to show she has no needle marks. “I’m no drug addict. You’re not going to find one needle mark except where a doctor took blood,” she said.

Abigail O’Neil, holding a sign at the intersection of Stewart Street and Patterson Boulevard, pulled up her sleeves to show she has no needle marks. “I’m no drug addict. You’re not going to find one needle mark except where a doctor took blood,” she said.

People have called police more than 200 times to complain about nuisance panhandlers at two Dayton intersections. These calls resulted in only 10 arrests, citations or any report being filed.

RELATED: Many panhandlers are part of organized teams and opiate addicted, city manager says

Since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2015 that holding a sign asking for money is free speech (so the city can’t require panhandlers to register) police have become largely powerless to handle complaints about people begging for money if they don’t cross a line such as impeding traffic or harassing people.

RELATED: With no law, panhandlers hit streets in force

The 1,432 complaints since the beginning of 2016 resulted in only 53 arrests, according to an analysis of regional dispatch data. Eleven of these were at the intersection of South Jefferson Street and U.S. 35.

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

Dayton and Montgomery County officials are calling on the public to stop donating money to panhandlers on the street and instead direct their generosity to the Real Change Dayton campaign, which will fund services to help them get off the street.

RELATED: 6 things Dayton is doing to address the explosion of panhandlers — and how you can help

Two intersections with more than 100 complaints each were Smithville Avenue and U.S. 35, and Keowee Street near U.S. 35.

The map below shows the locations where people have called with the most complaints about panhandling.

Heat map showing areas in Dayton with most police complaints about panhandling

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