From the outside, Spring Manor Apartments in Ocala looks like any other apartment complex.
But it’s not.
After numerous crimes, including two murders and several drug deal arrests over a two-and-a-half-year period, Ocala leaders are saying enough is enough.
“The problem is they will park near the back of the apartment complex, do their shootings and run off,” said Ocala Mayor Kent Guinn.
Police filed a nuisance complaint last year, giving the apartment complex notice to fix problems like build fences, add better lighting and install facial recognition cameras.
Still nothing. In fact, the most recent murder, three weeks ago, took police to the backyard of a neighboring church to find their killer.
“I think people should be held accountable," said Cindy Grimes, assistant to the church's minister. "You’ve got people who live there and who are making money off of their rents so they should be looking out for their residents.”
So now the city has filed suit against the apartment complex.
The suit said the complex’s managers continue to rent to drug dealers and it asks a judge to require the complex’s managers to stick to the plan, which would also require tenants sign a form pledging to be crime-free.
“It is unusual for a city to have to do that but we have to take the steps to ensure that the people over there and the people around there are safe," Guinn said. "If this is what we have to do, this is what we have to do.”
Spring Manor’s Manager said she had no comment on the situation.
The City of Ocala has also started charging the complex for overusing the police force. We're told that bill is more than $10,000.