ORLANDO, Fla. — An Orlando pastor said there is a constant, unwanted, large gathering in Parramore in the center of the nationally registered historic district.
Residents want the blocked streets and trash stopped and many said they’ve reached out to police for help several times a week for months.
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The troublesome corner is at the intersection of Terry Avenue and West Washington Street.
“I have to go about 5 miles as hour to go through there and if you ask them to move you may be in trouble,” Parramore resident Lynn Nicholson said.
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He said it’s usually a group of 150 to 200 people blocking the streets.
Some say the crowd stems from people gathering and paying people to sign petitions, but no one really knows.
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“My members can’t even get to our door to conduct business and many of them are actually frightened by this crowd,” Pastor Robert Spooney, with Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church, said.
While Channel 9 was in the area on Monday, police arrived on the scene and as quickly as the crowd scattered they came right back.
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Channel 9 received a response from Orlando police, which reads in part: “We are aware of concern from some of the residents in this neighborhood... Our patrol bureau commander has been active in ongoing conversations to find ways to address the concerns.”
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