St. Louis, MO  (KTRS)  Reverend Larry Rice of the New Life Evangelistic Center claims the recent spike in drug overdose cases near his shelter don’t involve his clients.

Rice says the homeless who are engaging in drug activity gather outside of the parking lot next to his property and he has contacted police about this problem.

“They will come if you actually see them doing drugs. They may take their time and by the time they get here, they’re gone. If you try to ask them to move all of these people, they say they can’t do that, it’s up to the property owner.”

On Tuesday afternoon EMS responded to another apparent drug overdose case near the shelter.

Carly Ott, one of the shelter residents, says she witnessed the incident. “I saw the guy drop right to the ground.”

According to St. Louis officials, EMS has responded to over 100 overdose cases related to the synthetic drug K2 near the shelter this month.

This comes amid the city’s notice earlier this month to shut the shelter down due to the lack of an occupancy permit. Rice says he will appeal the order. He has until December 9th to do so.

Meanwhile, Rice says he will hold the shelter’s annual Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday.