Sean C. Morgan
Of The New Era
Sweet Home Police Department charged six persons Oct. 20 with second-degree criminal trespass for loitering at the Pit Stop on the corner of 15th and Long.
After arresting six in connection with a drug enforcement operation two weeks ago, Police Chief Bob Burford said, police notified everyone located at that corner that the property has been used for drug-related activity. Police asked the gathered crowd to leave, and the crowd complied.
The property is posted no trespassing, Burford said. He said students and others who frequent the corner in the morning all ignore the posting.
The owner, Evea Dixon, 80, “has been experiencing problems for years with the trash and vulgar language,” Burford said. “She has repeatedly had confrontations with students, asking them to clean up their mess and leave the area. She’s in frail health and asked for our assistance.”
School District 55 announced that the no trespassing rule would be enforced, Burford said. For about a week, police issued warnings to people gathering at the corner.
On Oct. 21, police charged six, all cited and released in the field. They included Robbie Kennedy, 22; William Dillon, 35; Daniel Steiger, 20; Brittany Ann Gibson, 16; Kalie Gilbert, 14; and Terri Boshart, 16.
Second-degree criminal trespass is a misdemeanor.