Business owner concerned about nearby homeless encampment

UPDATE: 5:55 p.m.

After owning The Hair Studio in Bermuda Dunes for more than a year, Jenny Johnson said she started noticing something unusual just behind her salon.

“I saw a mattress back there, lots of trash and I saw a man laying out back there, on his back asleep with something over his eyes,” Johnson said. “And that was when I stopped parking back there.”

She says the homeless encampment behind her business makes it difficult for her and her employees, and has become concerned about their safety.

“Just last week, we had a man come in the salon and ask for a haircut, and we said we didn’t have any availability for him,” Johnson said. “He just wouldn’t leave. It’s like he was casing the place (and) looking around. And I have younger stylists in the salon. And they were afraid.”

Union Pacific Railroad officials said they plan on working with local law enforcement to address the matter, looking out for not just businesses, but also people staying near the tracks.

“They cite any trespassers, and are constantly working to make people aware that railroad property is never a safe place to be,” Union Pacific Media Director Justin Jacobs said. “Obviously, because trains are there, and there’s a safety concern.”

While Johnson said she hopes to have this issue out of her hair soon.

“I would hope that I would just have a little bit more freedom to take out the trash and not be afraid,” Johnson said.

Riverside County Sheriff’s Deputies said they were out Friday making their rounds around the encampment trying to address any complaints.

Jacobs said Union Pacific anyone can report similar issues located on railroad property by calling their response number at 1 (877) 877-7267.

Deputies also said they recommend anyone with issues of trespassing to contact the Sheriff’s Department.

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ORIGINAL STORY: 2:53 p.m.

A woman who owns a hair salon in Bermuda Dunes says a nearby homeless encampment, and the problems stemming from it, have been increasing in the past few months.

Jennifer Johnson owns the Hair Studio near Washington Street and Country Club Drive. The homeless encampment is located by the Union Pacific Railroad tracks and it’s also close to Johnson’s business.

Johnson said she’s had instances where homeless people just walk into her hair salon and demand free haircuts. She’s really concerned about her employees and customers at work.

KESQ and CBS Local 2’s Zak Dahlheimer spoke to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department to see how business owners should respond to these types of situations. We’ll also have information about a business district team that’s available to handle such problems.

Union Pacific also has a response number you can call for these situations: 1-877-877-7267.

We’ll tell you what you need to know about the homeless encampment issues on KESQ News Channel 3 at 5 p.m. and on CBS Local 2 at 6:30 p.m.