Several residents in the Sand Valley Community of Cherokee County are concerned about a young man who is going door to door apparently selling books.

Residents say he’s forceful and asks questions that make them uncomfortable and say he often comes late in the evening.

The individual was wearing a badge that had the name Ruby on it and said that he was a student at Texas State University – he has been telling individuals he was from Texas and wanted to sell books.

One resident told him she couldn’t buy them, but says the man didn’t stop; insisting they give him children’s names, wanting to write them down and that point he was asked to leave, but kept on insisting that she write her kids’ names down before finally leaving.

Arab Police Assistant Chief Shane Washburn says his department has also taken numerous calls from concerned residents describing the same man and situation.

He says the resident’s voice concerns about the man peering into windows and coming late in the evening.

We’ve learned the man is an independent student representative selling products from a company called Southwestern Advantage. We’ve also learned that company has an A+ rating with the BBB.

The company issued a statement to WHNT News in Huntsville which reads as follows:

 “Our company has been made aware of the concerns in the community in and around Arab regarding one of the independent student representatives selling our products. The young man is a college student from Texas who is running his own business this summer to help offset his school expenses by selling educational products to families. This is his first year to participate in the sales program. To address each concerns raised, we intend for this to certainly be a learning experience for him.  We have addressed this with his sales manager who will revisit our previous training that covers each of the concerns that have been brought to our attention. The students set their own schedule as to when they call on prospective customers. It is recommended they set appointments for later in the evening. Being located in Tennessee, we have had students in the community and county for well over 100 years. We value the residents and always seek to be part of the solution rather than part of a problem.”

WEIS Radio News has informed Cherokee County Sheriff Jeff Shaver of the situation.

Information provided in part by WHNT News 19| www.whnt.com