County seeks court's help with cleaning up property in Lake County

Frank Stanfield
·3 min read

SORRENTO – After years of trying to get a homeowner to clean up his junked-out property, “which continues to be a serious threat to the health, safety and public welfare to Lake County residents,” the county is asking the court to help it put a stop to the code violations.

County officials are seeking injunctive relief against David P. Smith of 31624 Orange St.

It’s not a pretty sight. Mixed in with neighboring neat, small concrete block homes and some new, upscale houses on big lots across the road, Smith’s front yard is a mish mash of old tires, car batteries, a boat trailer, appliances, patio furniture and a wooden pallet. And that’s just the front. The side and back are also littered with trash.

One of the complaints last summer described the property as a “drug/homeless camp with children there. They are living in tents and coming in off Summit Street to the backside of the property.”

A woman answered the door Thursday morning and said Smith was sleeping. He has not called the Daily Commercial to tell his side of the story.

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The Sheriff’s Office has been called to the home more than 140 times in a little less than a year, including 14 times for aggravated battery calls, one for rape, a few weapons charges, and nine calls for wanted persons, and others for trying to locate persons, according to Sheriff Office reports. Many of the calls involved animal complaints, loud noise, verbal arguments, trespassing, and vandalism, but there was at least one call for a drug overdose and another for a structure fire. Deputies also responded to 911 hangup calls.

Lake County officials are seeking injunctive relief against David P. Smith of 31624 Orange St. for longstanding code violations.
Lake County officials are seeking injunctive relief against David P. Smith of 31624 Orange St. for longstanding code violations.

In 2020, 56-year-old Smith was arrested during a traffic stop in front of his home and charged with possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. He was sentenced to 270 days in jail with credit for 129 days.

Krista Steall, who lives two doors down, said one night a fight broke out and suddenly, “people were banging on our cars.”

Lake County officials are seeking injunctive relief against David P. Smith of 31624 Orange St. for longstanding property code violations.
Lake County officials are seeking injunctive relief against David P. Smith of 31624 Orange St. for longstanding property code violations.

“We started to call the police but we just told them: “Get out of here!”

An even scarier moment came when children were almost hit by a car while riding a go-cart in the road, she said.

She believes conditions may be improving.

“I don’t wish ill of anyone. Maybe they’re getting the help they need,” Steall said.

Included with the court filing are more than 50 pages of documents, including dozens of photos of junk cars and boats, dilapidated fences and more.

One notice stated that he could be fined $1,000 per day for the violations. It is not known if he paid any fines.

“This injunction is being sought due to the extraordinary circumstances, the potential for future environmental damage, and the safety of neighboring residents,” the petition states. “The damages and relief sought herein are not capable of being collected through monetary damages, nor is compliance with the Lake County code available through any other adequate legal remedy.”

County officials have declined to comment since it is in litigation. The petition was filed in circuit civil court on June 28.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Code violations on property in Lake County to be addressed by court