Mixed feelings on campers at Shadow Hill Park

“Just an FYI … there was a homeless camp in the drainage ditch (by the bridge) at Shadow Hill Park, they were evicted about a week ago,” posted a Santee resident on the Nextdoor app (June 4), “I hate to see this happen at our park! Keep you eyes out!”

Another resident suggested to call the sheriff’s department [because] the park closes at sunset. “But I’m checking the park tonight at 10 just to get my point across,” he said.

The original poster immediately responded “I did call the sheriff, that’s why they were evicted — [I] just want people to be aware of their surrounds [sic].”

“Knight” (aka Afaik Naim on the thread) then responded after about 10 posts. “Just to … respectfully enlighten some people that might be jumping to conclusions; we are not homeless ... get off your high horse and try to talk to people before you jump to conclusions and ruin someone's good image ... that's illegal btw — public defamation.” he said.

A Santee resident stepped up and said “my children have noticed [them] and never been afraid of the homeless; in fact they have often given food to them, which they were thanked for. Homeless people are misunderstood — try kindness.”

A Cottonwood neighbor had a different take, “I understand they don’t have many places to go, but we taxpayers shouldn’t be in fear of letting our children play at the park bc (because) of the homeless invasion. We need to find a solution to it.”

Knight, 25, said he is a naturalist and has worked for NASSCO and Urban Corps. He and his best friend “Rose” try to stay out of sight (for a month before anyone noticed) and set up the tent without being an “eyesore” and it “disturbing the peace.” Sometimes their friends and family visit to chat and relax.

Knight said that he has a home and a “big family” but he’d rather “spend most of my days outdoors [because] we find the serenity of nature to be both beautiful and staggering.”

A direct message (dm) was sent (by the author) to the original poster of the thread and the Cottonwood resident for a statement; as of press time no response was made via dm or on the “Shadow Hill Park” thread.

Knight’s mother, an East County resident, did respond though via dm. “My three boys and my little four-year-old girl are the most respectful, loving, caring kids — and they don’t judge people no matter what they look like. If they see that you might be hungry, they will feed without asking any questions [and] if they see [that] you might be cold, they will take their sweater off to give it to you so … these are the kind of people that ‘these homeless’ are because one of them is my son, which I love with all my heart [heart emoticon].”

“I just hope that the world can see the difference between someone destructive,” Knight said, “and someone simply trying to live life to its fullest, free, happy."

Regarding the sheriff that was called, Knight said that they were let off with a warning. “The sheriff’s attitude itself was cordial and respectful, kind and understanding, however, his words did not match his actions … the police ripped up our ($100) tent when they found it.”