A SURGE of code enforcement activity, which one resident called “a reign of terror,” has the people living in Upper Carmel Valley’s Jensen Camp worried they’ll be evicted from their homes.

Located about 25 miles southeast of Carmel and just across a creek from the Cachagua Store, Jensen Camp is a small community of about 75 residents who rent trailers or trailer space from a single property owner, Javier Guzman.

In his blog, resident Michael Jones described the recent attention the camp has received from code enforcement officer Phil Hickenbottom, who works for the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office.

“[Hickenbottom] has toured and photographed the camp, has detailed each and every deviation from the current county code and is handing out citations for one and all,” wrote Jones, who owns A Moveable Feast, a catering business located at the Cachagua Store. “He is confiscating vehicles and condemning homes wholesale ...”

Robin Knowles-Falkenberg, a 15-year Jensen Camp resident who is in the process of moving to Marina, returned to the camp last week to discover her trailer had been declared a public nuisance and a car she owned had been towed. Knowles-Falkenberg said she previously notified the sheriff’s office of her impending move and said the car — a 1997 Mitsubishi — is registered as a non-operative vehicle.

“It’s just not fair,” Knowles-Falkenberg said of the citations. “Especially at this time of year. It’s too close to Christmas.”

Knowles-Falkenberg said the sheriff’s office is unable to tell her exactly where her car was towed because Hickenbottom is on vacation until early January. She is also worried she won’t be able to sell her trailer now.

“I’m a single parent and I work my tail off,” she said. “I used my inheritance to pay for this trailer. It’s my nest egg.”

Knowles-Falkenberg has 30 days to clear the violations.

According to Jones, residents are being cited for violations that exist all over Monterey County, even in upscale neighborhoods.

“It’s selective enforcement,” he suggested.

Jones is concerned residents don’t have the resources to fight the county.

“These people have no one standing up for them,” he said.

While it is not known what caused the recent surge in code enforcement, the action follows a 6th District Court of Appeals ruling in September that decided the county can be sued by Jensen Camp residents after it was determined their drinking water was tainted with dangerous levels of naturally-occurring fluoride. The appeals court ruling reversed a 2006 decision that released the county from liability in the case.

‘No need to be heavy-handed’

Fifth District Supervisor Dave Potter said his office was not informed in advance of the escalation in code enforcement.

“My office is extremely concerned about the way this has happened,” Potter insisted. “It was a complete surprise to us. I’m concerned there was not a whole lot of warning, respect, courtesy or even normal process given over what is essentially a vehicle abatement issue.”

Potter offered his assurances to Jensen Camp residents.

“I’ve contacted every level of authority in the county,” he said. “Let’s be kinder and gentler. Let’s work together on the issues. We don’t need to be heavy-handed. There are better ways of enforcing [county code regulations] than coming in and scaring the community.”

The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office confirmed its recent focus on code violations at Jensen Camp.

“We do have an active investigation going on for various code violations,” confirmed Sgt. Scott Ragan of the MCSO’s coastal station. Ragan declined to comment on the specifics of the investigation because Hickenbottom is on vacation.

Despite Hickenbottom’s absence, the code enforcement continues.

“They took six cars out of here yesterday,” Jones reported Thursday. “Somebody is still working.”

Ultimately, though, Jones is more worried about residents losing their homes.

“Where is everybody going to go?” he asked.