Cops Called On 12-Year-Old's Lemonade Stand
A Florida man is in the the running for the title of world's crankiest neighbor after repeatedly calling the police on a local child's lemonade stand.
According to the Tampa Bay Times, 12-year-old T.J. Guerrero had been selling homemade cookies and lemonade from a folding card table. He set up his stand from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. during the summer and most of the neighborhood said they had no problem with it, but one man is on a campaign to shut the middle schooler's stand down.
"I am very worried about the value of my home, which is why I built in a residential area, not a business area," said 61-year-old Doug Wilkey in an email to City Hall urging police to shut down Guerrero's "illegal business." Wilkey maintains that Guerrero's friends make noise and cause a nuisance. He also cited concerns about food safety.
"The city could possibly face repercussion in the event someone became ill from spoiled/contaminated food or drink sales," Wilkey wrote in another email.
Police, however, surveyed the neighborhood and the other residents said they thought the lemonade stand was cute.
"I had one when I was a little kid. We all did," said neighbor Vincent Titara. "I think it's cute."