ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. -
The Florida School for the Deaf and Blind has called an emergency meeting Friday morning to talk about security concerns on its campus.
Since the middle of December, there have been numerous reports of suspicious activity in an alleyway near one of the school's dormitories.
Residents in St. Augustine say it's a public alleyway that connects their neighborhood to the Intracoastal Waterway. But school officials say the increase in suspicious activity in recent weeks has them worried about the safety of the people on campus.
One complaint said a man was snapping harassing photos of students. Another report said a strange car was hanging around the neighborhood.
"On Friday, we want to let the board give direction to staff as far as how they want to handle certain issues related to the alleyway," said Sid Ansbacher, attorney for the school.
Neighbors said the alleyway is city owned and cuts through property owned by the school. Right next to the alleyway is a dorm for about seven high school students. Campus police say they've fielded several complaints from students and others about people acting strangely.
According to a police report, one neighbor, Harry Hutton, was handcuffed for resisting police. He was given a citation and allowed to go home.
Burt Hodge, who has lived next to the school for 21 years, believes the recent complaints are related to the school's desire to acquire eminent domain status. There is a bill under consideration in the state Legislature that would allow the school to buy up any property near campus.
"They keep eating up parts of the neighborhood, tearing it up, removing it, clearing it off," he said.
When asked if he thinks some of his neighbors are trying to be pesky on purpose and trying to harass on purpose to get in the way, Hodge said, "No, I don't. If anything, the Deaf and Blind school is harassing us."
Hodge is upset with the school, and a lot of people in the area have said they are not happy with what the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind has been doing to their neighborhood.
The emergency meeting on security issues is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Friday on campus. It is open to the public.
