A Port Charlotte woman snapped photos of three used syringes she found while walking her dog one morning last week.
She found the syringes on Vassar Street near Gray Avenue, and said she immediately called the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office.
Alan Reich lives nearby and was walking his dogs in the area. He said he walks there twice a day.
"It's terrible because this is a really nice family neighborhood. Never seen any bad things around here. Never seen any unusual activity, and it's really surprising to hear about that," Reich said.
He said seeing the photos concerns him.
"Drug deals, people just shooting up," Reich said.
He thought of the kids in the neighborhood. Kids like Rae Callahan's.
"It's scary, especially with kids, to know it's so close to home," Callahan said.
It's even closer to where her son Marcus walks to get to his bus stop.
"That's crazy, because this is where my son walks pretty much every day in the week," she said.
"I've seen them sometimes on the floor," her son Marcus said. "By the bus stop down there, too."
His mom said she's lived in the area for 20 years and chose it because of it's safety. She's hoping whoever did this will stop leaving syringes in the area she calls home.
"We're safe here. We love it here. That's why we're still here," she said. "This is not what I want to see here at all."
Fox 4 reached out to the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office to see if they are looking into this and if they regularly patrol the area for drug activity. We'll let you know when we hear back.
**UPDATE (2/13)** -- The Charlotte County Sheriff's Office says a deputy did respond to Vassar Street about the needles. The deputy collected the needles and ensured they were disposed of properly.
They encourage residents in the area to remain vigilant, and call in any suspicious people or vehicles in their neighborhood. Deputies will also be paying special attention to the area.
Their non-emergency number is 639-0013 and it is answered by a dispatcher 24 hours a day.
