Springdale resident says detectives visited after neighborhood complaint; city attorney says officers were responding to harassment report

During the public-comment portion of the Jan. 13 Springdale City Council meeting, resident Debbie Leahy said she has for years asked the city to address business operations next door to her home and reported that two detectives visited her door and threatened her with criminal charges after she raised concerns at a prior meeting.

Leahy told the council she had documented gravel and construction materials placed roughly eight feet from her kitchen door and said the gravel caused flooding in her driveway. She said the alleged unspecified complaint made against her accused her of "photographing children." The council president said none of the members present recalled prior knowledge of that specific allegation.

City Attorney Ernest Kate responded that the detectives were named in an email to his office and that, when he followed up, officers told him a neighbor had filed a harassment complaint. He said the detectives "were not sent there by anyone in the city" and that their visit was to make Leahy aware of the complaint. Ernest offered to provide Leahy the police report number so she could request a copy of the report.

Marie Leahy, who identified herself as Debbie's daughter, asked the council to hear her mother's concerns and said Debbie had been documenting the situation as city staff advised. Mayor Sprouse closed public comment after those remarks and the meeting proceeded to other agenda items.

No formal action on the neighborhood complaints or on the unnamed harassment claim was taken at the meeting; Ernest offered follow-up assistance in locating the report number.