ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. -- Neighbors in one St. Augustine community are fighting back after criminals have taken over a home on Queen Road in St. Augustine South.
The house has a history of causing problems. Action News has covered three criminal investigations there in the past two years including a murder-suicide, and two meth lab investigations.
It's a house that neighbors say doesn't belong in the family-friendly neighborhood.
"I'd like to see the house either removed or sold," said Dale Pickett, who has lived down the street for more than two decades.
Action News first met Pickett in March, when a working meth lab was found inside his neighbors home. Since then, he says nothing has changed.
"It's the same thing now. There are different people in that house every week. I see people coming and going very late at night and very early in the morning all the time.
Pickett is one of many neighbors who continued to complain to police, which prompted a special investigation that revealed a second meth lab this week. This lab was inactive, but all the necessary ingredients were there.
Cpl. Catherine Payne says the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office has been following the activities at the home, collecting intelligence with help from neighbors.
"We are making contact with different people at that residence each time that we go. The key for us as law enforcement is just to stay tapped in and use intelligence about the people who are staying at that residence."
Action News found the owner of the home is still listed as Harry Lee Brano with the St. Johns County property appraiser, but Brano died in the murder-suicide in 2010.
It's unclear who's in charge of the home today, or if the people staying there are supposed to be there at all.
Payne says that is all part of the ongoing investigation.
"As we stay in contact with the community, and we continue with a proactive approach, I think we won't see many more problems out of this individual house."
Neighbors like Pickett hope so.
No arrests have been made in the meth lab discovery from this week. Investigators tell Action News the evidence is now being processed to identify the people reponsible. Charges are expected in coming days.
