Apple Valley residents urge action after repeated threats, damage tied to nearby group home

Residents told the Apple Valley City Council on May 14 that a nearby group home has been the source of escalating threats, assaults and property damage that have left neighbors afraid to use yards and parks. Mayor and staff said local authority is limited by state licensing and court findings, and urged residents to file complaints and work with county and state agencies while councilors pursue longer-term legislative fixes.

At the meeting, Fred (a resident) said the neighborhood has logged more than 100 incidents connected to the home, including more than 20 this year alone, and described fights that spilled into the street and assaults on staff. "The police have been very responsive and supportive," Fred said, "but we're still at the same place we were."

Adam Erhard Swanson, who identified himself and said he has lived in the neighborhood more than 18 years, said the most recent client "will actually actively scream at the children," has used death threats and vulgar slurs, and has assaulted a group‑home employee. "They started throwing rocks," Swanson said, adding that families now feel they must shelter inside and cannot let children play unattended.

A child who introduced himself as London told the council: "I feel unsafe and scared. I wish we could go outside without being threatened." Another neighbor, Carol, described a broken mailbox and a new truck damaged while the household was ordered to remain inside.

City staff and councilors told residents they shared the frustration but outlined limits on local action. City staff identified the licensing authority as the Minnesota Department of Human Services and said the facility holds a "home and community based services, community residential setting" license; staff said Apple Valley currently has 41 such licenses. The mayor said the facility’s license renewal date is June 30 and encouraged residents to file complaints in the state reporting system to build a documented record.

Several speakers, including residents and council members, said courts and county prosecutors often decline criminal actions or restraining orders when a person has been found mentally incompetent. Residents said previous attempts to pursue legal remedies were dismissed on those grounds. "We can't even press charges anymore... they just won't," one neighbor said, describing a pattern in which cases are not prosecuted after competency determinations.

Council members acknowledged the legal and constitutional protections that guide placements of people with disabilities in community settings and said the city lacks authority to relocate a resident or override court placements. Several councilors urged systematic documentation of incidents, continued coordination with Dakota County and the Minnesota Department of Human Services, and legislative changes at the state level to give cities better recourse when placements pose safety risks.

Mayor and staff asked residents to keep submitting reports, photos and video to the state's complaint system and to the police so city officials and legislators can build a case for change. The council did not take formal action on the matter at the meeting but pledged to follow up with county partners and to raise the issue with state legislators.

What's next: city staff said they will share the license renewal date and complaint process with residents and will continue coordinating with Dakota County officials and the Minnesota Department of Human Services; council members said they expect to raise the issue with state lawmakers to explore changes to oversight and placement processes.