Florida Woman Lives in Fear as Neighbor Turns Cell Into Weapon:’Public Safety Concern’

A 72-year-old man from St. Petersburg, Florida, has been arrested after local authorities say he made more than 3,400 calls to 911 in just the first half of this year. Over the last five years, his call count has reached a staggering 16,000.

Investigators allege that these calls were not about real emergencies. But were part of a disturbing harassment campaign targeting his next-door neighbor. The man, identified as Samuel Lee Thomas, reportedly used the emergency system to make dozens of false reports against his neighbor’s household.

From claims of drug activity and gunfire to bizarre accusations of general mayhem, Thomas consistently directed police attention toward the family living across the street. In one recent incident, he claimed an AR-15 was being fired in the street. Yet when officers arrived, they found nothing more than a family cookout with children playing peacefully nearby.

Targeted Florida Neighbor Speaks Out

The woman living at the Florida property, 34-year-old Anqunette Peterson, says the constant flood of police responses has made life unbearable for her and her family. She reported that Thomas often parks outside her home, yells profanity, and continues to file baseless complaints.

Officers investigating the situation ultimately determined that Thomas was using 911 as a tool to intimidate and harass. Rather than report genuine emergencies. As a result of the ongoing harassment, Thomas was arrested. He’s been charged with filing a false police report, stalking, and resisting arrest after a brief struggle with law enforcement, according to a post on the FloridaMan Reddit.

Authorities noted that the sheer volume of calls, averaging over 600 already in 2025, cannot be justified by public safety concerns.

According to court records, Thomas does not have a documented history of mental illness. Nor was he intoxicated during the calls. He does, however, have a criminal past, including charges for battery, DUI, marijuana possession, and passing bad checks. Despite this, he had not previously been charged for misusing emergency services.

Authorities say the sheer volume of calls made by Thomas put unnecessary strain on first responders. It has also caused significant distress to a family who did nothing wrong. With over 600 emergency calls already made in 2025, officials are treating the case as a serious misuse of public resources.

The family at the center of the harassment says they’re emotionally exhausted. She fears that if it continues, the consequences could escalate into a hazardous situation. Thomas has pleaded not guilty and was released on a $1,500 bond.