Executive Summary
- Daytona Beach residents report severe safety concerns regarding a property on North Oleander Avenue frequented by squatters.
- Police and DEA agents raided the home on January 8, seizing drugs and making arrests, though activity reportedly persists.
- Chief Jakari Young is seeking a ruling from the Nuisance Abatement Board to forcibly close the property for one year.
Residents in Daytona Beach, Florida, are urging local officials to take decisive action against a residential property on North Oleander Avenue, citing persistent criminal activity and safety concerns despite recent law enforcement interventions. According to reports from the Daytona Beach Police Department, the residence has become a focal point for alleged drug use and squatting, prompting fear among neighbors and a multi-agency investigation.
Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari Young addressed the community’s concerns, confirming that the property is housing more than 20 individuals. Chief Young stated that the homeowner, who has faced prior arrests, is allegedly permitting individuals struggling with addiction to reside on the premises. “The homeowner is allowing these individuals, these addicts, to pile up into that house where they’re doing meth and engaging in all kinds of illegal activities,” Chief Young told WFTV.
Law enforcement officials, in conjunction with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), executed a search warrant at the North Oleander Avenue location on January 8. Investigators reported recovering narcotics and taking multiple individuals into custody during the operation. However, Chief Young noted that many of those arrested were released after a few days, leading to a cycle of return to the property. Neighbors described the situation as untenable; one resident, Gary Stalker, expressed frustration to reporters, stating, “The city commission’s known about it, the mayor’s known about it, but nothing’s happened.” Another neighbor claimed to sleep behind a stainless-steel sheet due to fears of potential gunfire.
Authorities are currently coordinating a multi-step strategy to permanently address the issue. The police department has initiated a drug investigation while code compliance officers build a separate case regarding the property’s condition. The objective is to present these findings to the local Nuisance Abatement Board. Chief Young indicated that the goal is to secure an order to close the home for one year, providing the owner a window to sell the property or bring it into full compliance with city regulations.
Procedural Next Steps
The transition of this case to the Nuisance Abatement Board represents a critical shift from standard criminal enforcement to administrative legal action. While criminal arrests address individual offenders, nuisance abatement laws allow municipalities to sanction property owners who habitually facilitate criminal activity. If the board grants the closure order, it would effectively strip the property’s utility for a designated period, disrupting the localized drug market described by law enforcement. It is important to note that all individuals arrested or charged in connection with this investigation are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
