Dealers suspected in death of man, 79
The Fairhill victim often had chased drug peddlers from his rowhouse steps. And he was active in Town Watch.
Police are investigating whether the confrontations of a 79-year-old Fairhill man, whose son is a Philadelphia police officer, with sidewalk drug peddlers are connected to the man's bludgeoning death.
Police said yesterday that Dario Gutierrez, the father of seven children, had frequent quarrels with drug dealers who sat on the steps of his North Philadelphia rowhouse in the 2700 block of North Mascher Street. Gutierrez's body was found in his home Tuesday by family members.
"We do have some indication it may have something to do with the drug activity in this neighborhood," Chief Inspector Joseph Fox said at a news conference outside the victim's home. He urged neighbors to report any suspicious activity to police.
He said Gutierrez was "very active" in getting the neighborhood Town Watch to confront the dealers of crack cocaine and heroin who hung out at the corner of North Mascher and Somerset Streets.
Edwin Rivera, a stepson of the victim, said Gutierrez was "fighting with the drug dealers all the time, always chasing them off."
Gutierrez, a retired chef who was a percussionist in a salsa band, lived in the house for about 15 years. "We've been trying to get him to move, but he was a little stubborn and didn't listen," Rivera said.
Gutierrez was last seen by a neighbor Sunday afternoon. His body was found at 1 p.m. Tuesday by two of his daughters, who went to investigate after he had failed to respond to calls.
Police are awaiting a medical examiner's report and said Gutierrez appeared to have been killed by blunt-force trauma. There were no signs of forced entry into the house.
Fox said drug dealing is "very, very pervasive in this neighborhood. You can drive around and see it."
Neighbors who talked about the drug dealing declined to be identified because they feared retaliation.
Elizabeth Rodriguez, who lives near the victim, said Gutierrez was a warm neighbor who never failed to greet her as she walked to the market. "I used to see him out almost every day, sweeping the sidewalk," she said.
Anita Gutierrez, 46, the youngest of three daughters, said her father lived alone; his wife has Alzheimer's disease.
"He never expressed fear," she said. "He is part of the Town Watch and did everything he could to clean up the street."
Gutierrez was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, and came to Philadelphia at a young age. One of his four sons, Jose, is a police officer in the 26th District.