Daytona Beach board reviews continuing nuisance at Jay’s Food Store; security, windows and unpaid fine cited

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The City of Daytona Beach’s Nuisance Abatement Board on Jan. 8 heard police testimony and documentary evidence that Jay’s Food Store (doing business as Family Food), at 600 North Ridgewood Avenue, continues to experience criminal activity and to fall short of several requirements the board imposed in a February 2024 order.

City and police presenters told the board they repeatedly found people previously trespassed from the property on-site, made multiple arrests for drug possession and paraphernalia in the store’s parking lot, and found store practices that did not meet the board’s ordered conditions — specifically the requirement for a reputable security guard on duty during all open business hours and an unobstructed view through store windows. Sergeant Timothy Balarus of the Daytona Beach Police Department said the hearing was a follow-up to earlier nuisance orders and that the city was documenting ongoing noncompliance.

Why this matters: The board’s 2024 order required security staffing, camera upgrades with real‑time access, and unobstructed windows among other measures intended to curb drug sales, trespassing and other conduct the city links to a persistent nuisance at the site. Board members heard police say some technical requirements (camera upgrades and VC3 connection) were completed, but that security staffing and the window visibility rule remained problem areas, and the city says an imposed $5,000 investigative fee has not been paid.

Police recap and evidence

Sergeant Balarus and other Daytona Beach officers reviewed prior incidents dating to 2023 that the city says formed the basis for earlier findings: the presentation listed multiple dates in 2023 when officers recorded suspected on‑site cocaine sales and other criminal activity. Sergeant Balarus told the board the property’s history includes arrests and complaints for drug sales, prostitution, aggravated battery and illegal tobacco and alcohol sales.

Sergeant Shawna Connolly, who conducted follow‑up inspections, testified that she observed tobacco‑ and THC‑related products displayed near the registers without required age‑restriction signage. Officer Justin Huckabee described several arrests in the parking lot of people who had previously been trespassed from the property; on some occasions officers found narcotics or paraphernalia on those people during incident inventories.

Security and licensing

Police witnesses told the board they repeatedly encountered problems with the contract security company assigned to the site. Officer testimony and documentary screenshots shown to the board indicated at least three security staff members were identified who either lacked a current, approved state security license or had applications that were denied because of felony convictions or active probation. Officer testimony indicated that on at least one date a person in a security uniform was sleeping in a vehicle on-site and, on other dates, no security staff were present while the business was open.

Officer Brian Morales said he checked a man who identified himself as a security officer and found no active state license application and that state records showed the person was on felony probation; Morales said the state would not have issued a security license under those conditions. Sergeant Balarus and other officers said the city’s requirement was for a security guard from a reputable company who met Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services licensing standards.

Windows, cameras and other requirements

The board’s February 2024 order included an item requiring store windows be kept unobstructed to allow clear sightlines into and out of the store. Sergeant Balarus presented photographs showing handwritten advertising boards and other material taped to the front windows and door that, he said, limited visibility into the parking area. Officers testified that while the store ultimately upgraded cameras and established a feed to the county/real‑time crime center, the window obstruction issue recurred.

Board history and compliance items

City presenters recapped prior proceedings involving the property in 2002 and 2017 and said the February 2024 order reiterated prior conditions and added specific deadlines (for example, security staffing and camera access to the VC3 scribe center). The board was told the store complied with a three‑day closure ordered in February 2024, but that the city’s $5,000 investigative/reimbursement fee listed in the order remained unpaid.

Respondent’s attorney and witnesses

Kelvin Daniels, attorney for the property owner(s) and the tenant, acknowledged the board previously found a nuisance and told the board he would contest characterizing the current circumstances as a continuing nuisance. Daniels questioned some investigative practices described by police, argued some evidence reflected arrests after officers observed trespassed people in parking areas rather than inside the store, and said his clients would present evidence and witnesses in their defense in a continued hearing.

Raymond Saeed, identified in the hearing as the on‑site proprietor, and employees who testified told the board they had worked with officers at times and described day‑to‑day store operations. One on‑site security employee, Julia Pickett of SC Protection, and another worker, Roy Jarrell, described daily duties and said they monitor the business and its cameras; employees also said inspectors from the Florida Department of Agriculture had reviewed operations and offered positive feedback on at least one visit.

Board procedure and next steps

The board proceeded through testimony from numerous officers and witnesses and accepted police reports and photographs into the hearing record. During the session the board excused member Charles Jackson from the hearing by voice vote; the transcript records the motion and an affirmative voice vote. At the end of the day’s session the board did not issue a new order or a vote to change prior sanctions. Instead the board continued the hearing and rescheduled to reconvene on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, at 1 p.m. to allow both sides to present additional evidence and testimony.

What the board heard but did not decide

Police urged the board to find continued noncompliance with the February 2024 order based on the security and window issues, continued on‑site conduct by previously trespassed individuals, and the unpaid $5,000 investigative fee. Respondent counsel said the record included disputed evidence, challenged some enforcement tactics, and said respondents would produce testimony and documents in the continued hearing to rebut the city’s characterization.

The hearing will resume Jan. 15, 2025, at 1 p.m. in the City of Daytona Beach commission chambers. The board’s earlier February 2024 order remains in effect pending the continued proceedings.

Quoted speakers (from hearing): Sergeant Timothy Balarus, Daytona Beach Police Department; Sergeant Shawna Connolly, Daytona Beach Police Department; Officer Justin Huckabee, Daytona Beach Police Department; Officer Brian Morales, Daytona Beach Police Department; Kelvin Daniels, attorney for the respondents; Raymond Saeed, proprietor; Julia Pickett, SC Protection (security); Roy Jarrell, employee.