UPDATE (4:16 p.m.)—Frustrated by teenagers loitering and defacing her property before school, a woman followed the advice of and police officials and began taking photos of students outside her home.
But Lynn Levin, a homeowner near the corner of Perryvale and Ebenezer roads, said she never expected a student to respond with violence.
At around 7:30 a.m. on Monday, a female student noticed Levin was taking photos and attacked her, according to the homeowner.
"She came over and smacked me—pretty hard for a girl. I was shocked," Levin said. "I have every right to take a picture."
Police have identified the suspect as Fotina Anna Alatzas, 18, of the 7500 block of Days Woods Court in Kingsville. Alatzas was charged Monday afternoon with second-degree assault.
When contacted by Patch, a family member of Alatzas declined to comment on the incident and charge.
Are crowds of students in neighborhoods near Perry Hall High School, before and after the school day, a problem? Tell us in the comments.
and happened to be at the school at the time of the incident.
Marks and Shellenberger met with Levin following the incident to discuss ongoing issues with loitering, graffiti and property damage in neighborhoods near the school, the councilman said.
"It's a tough issue. I live right by the school and it's extremely frustrating," Marks said.
Marks formed the last year to address to town-gown issues.
A contributing factor to loitering is a strict drug-free schools policy, which prevents students from smoking on school property. Teenage smokers, instead, gather on a public sidewalk along Ebenezer Road and sometimes enter the yards of adjacent homeowners, according to Marks.
Levin said the crowds of students in neighborhoods near the school, between 7:10 a.m. and 7:40 a.m., appear to be growing. Since the beginning of the school year, a lock to her fence was broken and part of her vinyl fence is now covered in graffiti.
"I'm really tired of dealing with all of that," she said. "I saw them doing it and I couldn't stop them."
Levin said she hopes school and police officials will take a more proactive approach following the alleged assault.
Capt. Michael Balog of the said he is working with school and government officials to develop a plan for addressing neighborhood problems with students.
Assistant Principal Stephen Arnold said the school has made multiple announcements discouraging students from loitering in neighborhoods before and after school.
Arnold added that warmer weather contributes to problems with crowds of students.
Marks said only a small percentage of the total school population causes problems.
"Most students are respectful," he said.
What can school and police officials do about unruly crowds of students near schools? Tell us in the comments.
Editor's Note: A previous version of this article misspelled the suspect's first name. Patch regrets the error.
However, as Emily just updated below, Ms. Alatzas WAS charged with assault, so...
I've lived across from the school for 33 years and back then we never had a any real problems. However over the years conditions have gotten worse particularly in this NEW AGE of shunning responsibility. Besides the destruction of property and the blocking of roadways, PHHS students in the past ( not this year, yet ) have also engaged in drugs and sex both inside of cars AND OUTSIDE of cars. To everyone who has posted......YES this situation has come to a head. This 18 yr. old ADULT attacker should get the maximum penalty under the law. The PHHS Administration needs to make an example of this girl. I don't want to hear about ' oh, it's only a few bad apples'. Put yourself in the homeowners position. How would you like it if someone assaulted YOU??. Historically, since the PHHS administration usually does nothing under these circumstances, I propose the following. I propose that the county install "No Littering / No Loitering " signs along Ebenezer Rd., 100yrds up Perryvale Rd., Jacinth Ct., and Hedgerow Way AND ENFORCE THE LAW which basically would be a $100 fine ( I think ). Also, DAILY announcements to the student body regarding the above. I will be sending Mr. David Marks a letter regarding the above and will volunteer my services to assist him in any way that I can.
I suppose that the PHHS administration's hands are tied unless an incident occurs on school property.
You say only one side of the story has been told. You seem to know so much about what REALLY happened, yet you failed to tell us how you arrived with all this information. Are you a lawyer acting on behalf of the Alatzas's Family? Regardless, I think that before you suggest a counter suit on Ms.Alatzs's behalf, You might want to wait for the appropriate authorities to make a determination of what took place. REMEMBER, "Innocent until proven guilty". You critisize others for rushing to judgement, but aren't you a bit guilty of the same offense? Anyone, child or adult, proven to be damaging or litering someones private property should be sentenced to clean the disgraceful amount of trash along our road ways and public spaces. Have you seen the garbage along Rt 43 when you come off 95? Real nice impression for out of towners to view our community. Probably placed there by the same out of towners, but it still looks bad?
Reread the story. She is from Kingsville. Maybe she should be going to Falston. My neice and nephew lived in kingsville and went to Falston.
Also, I think there are more important things going on in this world and anyone who has commented on this article who has no relationship to the girl or family (those people obviously are bored with their lives) should take a few steps back and put your priorities in order, in fact maybe join a club or gym in order to stop you from wasting your time worrying about other people's business.
if someone was taking pictures of me, somewhere, in my car, you know what I'd do? Leave.
There are students that make a mess and are disrespectful but MOST ARE NOT. If I was in my car,legally parked on a public road, and someone was taking pictures of me I would call 911 and report the person, they have no right to take my picture. If you have problems call 911 everyday.
By the way, Jeanne, what would you have the police do if they were called in this case. The police could ask the picture taker to voluntarily surrender the camera. They cannot seize the camera (without a warrant or subpoena). They cannot arrest the picture taker, for she has broken no laws. My advice, offered free of charge, is that when you are in a public place (even your vehicle), assume that you are being recorded. Most of the time the recording will be by the local authorities, but not always. My standard has always been this: Don't do anything in public that you would be ashamed of if your mother saw it.
Most likely, the police intimidated the guy into agreeing to give up the film, a common practice of police officers (which I have no problem with). The guy was obviously a jerk and needed a good scare to get him to stop.