Crime & Safety

UPDATED: Capo Police Chief Tries to Resolve Neighborhood Dispute with JSerra

A resident complained to the City Council about a recent dance at the school.

Originally posted at 12:25 p.m. Oct. 3, 2013. Updated with comment from a JSerra spokeswoman. 

San Juan Capistrano’s chief of police will try to bring together a group of disgruntled neighbors and JSerra Catholic High School officials.

On Tuesday, Jeff Peó complained to the City Council about the noise coming from Saturday’s homecoming dance.

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“You can’t really hear the music, but when it starts amplifying the bass, the drums, it gets loud. In fact so loud, it starts rattling the window of my home [and] at a number of my neighbors,” Peó said.

Peó said he called the sheriff’s department around 10 p.m., but when deputies went to the school, officials there refused to shut it down, saying the dance was over at 11 p.m.

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JSerra spokeswoman Amanda Samaan said the DJ shut down the music by 10:30 p.m. and students disbursed by 11 p.m. 

"It’s unfortunate that the neighbors felt like their evening was interrupted," Samaan said. "We’re absolutely willing to work with our neighbors."

It’s not the first time neighbors have complained. Last year, a group of adults who use JSerra’s pool before school starts felt their club was threatened and appealed to the City Council to help broker an agreement.

The latest incident is just a reflection of what’s happened over the private school’s history in the area, Peó said Tuesday.

“When that school was built, the rights of neighbors were taken from us, and the school now has all power. They can do whatever they want to, whenever they want to. Be as noisy as they want. Keep lights on all night long,” he said.

Lt. John Meyer, who heads up San Juan Capistrano’s police services, said he will work with all the parties to bring a peaceful resolution to the disputes.

“My goal is to find a resolution that is beneficial to all involved,” Meyer told Patch. 


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