Halifax Regional Police are investigating their second homicide in the region in as many days.

Police were called to a disturbance at 214 Portland St. in Dartmouth just before 9 p.m. Tuesday.

When officers arrived at the rooming house, they found a body and a suspect, said Const. Brian Palmeter, an HRP spokesman.

"Arriving on scene we found the body of a 33-year-old male deceased inside the residence. Shortly after, as a result of investigations, we were able to arrest a 59-year-old man," said Palmeter.

Police are saying little else.

The slaying at the rooming house happened as several men belonging to the International Order of Odd Fellows were meeting in the building right behind.

At about 8:30 p.m., Gerald Faulkner said he heard a pounding noise that sounded like "somebody's head was being beat against the side of the building."

Faulkner said it wasn't long before he heard sirens.

"The police came and told us not to come out this side, to come out the harbour side when we came out," he said.

Police remained at the scene for several hours Tuesday night.

Palmeter said the 59-year-old man was in custody and the investigation was continuing.

Meanwhile, residents in the neighbourhood were calling on police to do something about the drugs and crime in the area.

Linda Goyetche, who lives in a duplex next door to the rooming house, said she is tired of calling the police to report the illegal activity she sees on a regular basis.

"I've seen people doing crack cocaine in the windows of this house. I've seen people come and go counting money. I've seen people come and go fighting," Goyetche, a married mother of two children, told CBC News on Wednesday. "Everything you can name, I've seen at this place."

Tim Olive, director of the Dartmouth Downtown Business Commission, said the rooming house has already been reported under the province's Safer Communities Act.

The act, which came into effect in 2007, helps police shut down houses known for drug dealing, illegal gambling or prostitution.

"The police will have enough information now with this to move forward with the Department of Justice and have the homeowners close this building down," Olive said on Wednesday. "And the best thing to happen is to bulldoze it down and make it a parking lot for now."