Neighbors have complained for more than a decade about junk outside the home of a man they call the “Junk Man.”  But on Thursday, neighbors say they were happy to see crews moving in to take care of the problem. 

Truckload after truckload, crews pulled out huge pipes, satellite dishes and even old appliances from Alan and Aileen Davis’s property on Alpine Street.  Seminole County officials say they continued to get complaints from neighbors who said the junk was just too much.

“Finally it’s out, so I’m happy,” said Bruno Grunig, a neighbor.

Alan Davis made national headlines more than a decade ago when he went to jail because he refused to clean his property up.  County officials say earlier this year they found more code violations, and warned the Davis’ through mail and yard signs that if they didn’t clean it up – the county would.

“[It] affects their property value, their way of life, not to mention the hazardous materials that are on this property,” said Heather Smith, spokesperson for the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office. “So it was time for us to take action and use the authority under the code to get this property cleaned up for the benefit of this neighborhood.”

We reached Alan Davis by phone Thursday.  He was away from the home at work while his wife watched crews haul more than 60,000 pounds of items away.

“They’re not going to tell me what to do on my property.  I have a constitutional right to put that stuff there,” said Davis.

“People every single day are saying ‘how can the government do this to us?’ Because you allow them to. When you don’t fight the battle, you give up your rights,” said Aileen Davis.

Deputies took three cars away from the Davis’ property that are no longer functional.  They say they did leave some items that have a legit purpose and don’t violate county codes. 

“I feel sorry for the guy.  I think he has some kind of issue,” said Grunig.

Neighbors say they are happy to see the property cleaned up, but they say they fear after crews leave, everything will just eventually pile up again.

The sheriff’s office plans to make the Davis’ pay the county back for the nearly $10,000 the county spent on the cleanup.  And a sheriff’s office spokeswoman says investigators will turn over evidence to the state attorney’s office so it can decide whether the couple could face criminal charges.