FORT MYERS, FL--The death of that two-year-old brings up questions for people living around the Horizons Apartment complex. Nearly two years ago homeowners living right behind the complex were concerned about the crime that could come with a low income development.
Robert Burns lives in Whiskey Creek. Burns and some of his neighbors were at a town hall meeting back in 2011 when the Fort Myers Housing Authority reassured neighbors living in subdivisions around the horizons apartment complex that keeping everyone safe is their number one priority.
"We were concerned about the crime rate that it could bring," said Burns.
But now, nearly two years later, burns and his neighbors are still concerned. But Sherri Campanale with the housing authority says they do everything they can to keep crime down.
"Little to no crime out there, it has been very quiet, it has been very peaceful," said Campanale.
At the 2011 meeting, Campanale told concerned neighbors that those moving in to Horizons must have a complete background check and have a new check every year to renew their lease.
"And the signed lease agreement does prohibit unauthorized occupants from living in the lease," said Campanale.
But that's exactly what happened in this case. Police say Derrick Johnson, the accused killer of Addison, was not on the lease, but was living in the complex. Burns said the nearby homeowners were under the impression that the Fort Myers Police Department office at Horizons would have an officer present at all times. We've learned the police office is not manned by an officer on a regular basis.
"Our officers will use it to complete paperwork, use the restroom, have a meal," said Lt. Jay Rodriguez.
"Police need places to work, but it wasn't sold to us that way," said Burns.
The Fort Myers Police Department has officers patrolling the low income housing and as for the Housing Authority, they say they have kept every promise to those in nearby neighborhoods to keep crime down.
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