A long-running dispute over the type of gravel allowed in front yards has erupted into a pepper-spray confrontation in an affluent Arizona community, leaving one homeowners association director hospitalized.
Lonnie Muto, a director of the Scottsdale Mountain Community Association, became involved in the August 6 incident with neighbors David Creed and Sheila Janisch near 136th Street and East Via Linda Road in North Scottsdale.
A police report obtained by The Arizona Republic said Muto was traveling with his wife, Jane, when he stopped and got out of the vehicle carrying pepper spray. He believed the couple had thrown an object at their car.
The dispute soon became physical, and Creed and Janisch were also exposed to pepper spray during the clash.
Muto was transported to a hospital for minor injuries, while Creed and Janisch were treated for the effects of the spray, according to the report.
Police recommended an assault charge against Muto, but he was not taken into custody.
On August 10, four days after the confrontation, a Scottsdale City Court judge issued an order of protection against Muto. It was not immediately clear who the order was designed to safeguard.
The dramatic street encounter represents the latest flashpoint in a neighborhood conflict that has continued for years and began with a seemingly ordinary question: which types of decorative rock residents could use in their yards.
A long-running dispute over garden gravel has erupted into a pepper-spray confrontation in an affluent Arizona neighborhood, leaving one homeowners association (HOA) director hospitalized
The disagreement traces back to 2020, when Janisch altered the landscaping at her home, reportedly as part of efforts to address water damage.
In a lawsuit filed in 2024, Janisch and Creed alleged that the Scottsdale Mountain Community Association, several board members and Jane Muto retaliated against them because of the landscaping work.
They said they were singled out for using gray riprap and Table Mesa brown rock, arguing that other homeowners had installed the same materials without receiving comparable scrutiny.
The HOA’s design rules prohibit river-run rock in front yards and require residents to secure approval from the architectural committee before making landscaping changes.
The guidelines also limit decomposed granite to three approved colors: Madison Gold, Desert Gold and Desert Tan.
What began as a disagreement over landscaping eventually developed into a wide-ranging legal battle.
Janisch and Creed alleged that the association and the other defendants threatened foreclosure proceedings, defamed them, disabled their electronic gate access, withheld HOA records and conducted executive sessions without giving proper notice.
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Under the association’s gate policy, access transmitters can be disabled when homeowners violate the rules. Restoring access requires a $250 payment for each transmitter, separate from any fines that may have been assessed.
Scottsdale Mountain is no typical suburban neighborhood, with about 700 homes inside the guard-gated community in the foothills of the McDowell Mountains
The feud intensified again in 2025, when an anonymous letter was reportedly distributed to approximately 700 homeowners while Janisch was seeking a position on the HOA board.
The lawsuit said the letter accused Janisch and Creed of making numerous false claims in their legal case and suggested that Janisch was pursuing a board seat so she could forgive her own fines and sanctions.
The association has pushed back against the accusations, insisting it believes the evidence will show it followed its governing documents and applicable Arizona laws.
Board representative and attorney Chuck Oldham said the association was aware of the police report but had no comment on the incident at the time.
He added that the board would not discuss specific allegations while the litigation remained active, while Creed was advised by his attorney not to comment.
The case also shines a light on the wider tensions surrounding homeowners associations across Arizona, where disputes over property rules, fees and enforcement can turn neighbors into bitter adversaries.
Dennis Legere, founder of the Arizona Homeowners Coalition, told The Arizona Republic that HOA conflicts were common across the Phoenix-area Valley, with some associations even bringing security guards or police to meetings.
Arizona law sets requirements for HOA meetings and certain records, although the rules governing what must be disclosed depend on the circumstances.
Scottsdale Mountain is no ordinary suburban enclave, with the guard-gated community home to around 700 properties in the foothills of the McDowell Mountains.
According to Williams Luxury Homes, current listings include homes priced at around $1.9 million to nearly $3.5 million, with larger custom properties offering expansive desert views, swimming pools and substantial lots.
The neighborhood also boasts tennis facilities and easy access to hiking trails, making it a sought-after address for buyers looking for luxury living in the Arizona desert.
Scottsdale Mountain’s association has also pursued legal action over unpaid assessments, including a separate case involving a property owner that ended with an appeals court ruling in the association’s favor.
For the residents caught up in the latest confrontation, however, the neighborhood battle has moved well beyond landscaping committees and arguments over decorative stones.
What began as a disagreement over the look of a front yard has now spilled onto the street, with pepper spray, a hospital visit and a court protection order adding a dramatic new chapter to the long-running feud.