My Condo Neighbors Are Mad At Me For Walking In The Common Area Behind Our Building Past Their Windows Because It Makes Their Dogs Bark. Their Behavior Is Becoming Concerning. (south Carolina, Us)

Behind my dad's house is a condo complex. He bought a unit in the building right behind his backyard and I moved in. We installed a gate in his fence and use that to traverse between the properties basically daily. The path takes us through a common area at the rear of the condo building and past one of the unit's windows and back porch. The neighbors who live in that unit are very upset with my dad and I for walking through that common area. They claim it makes their multiple small dogs bark which then wakes their sleeping grandchild.

Here is a diagram of the space in question.

Other than walk along the blue path, I have done nothing to antagonize them. I do not loiter, I do not make excessive noise, I do not look into their windows. I have avoided talking to them, unless they're standing in their porch and address me specifically.

On the other hand, over the past months, have:

• Called me a punk/jerk/jackass/Mr. Disrespectful as I pass
• Banged on their windows and door as I pass
• Installed/removed (multiple times) a motion activated speaker that plays loud audio of dogs barking and gunshots (my dad could hear it from his kitchen, 100ft away)
• Left potted plants, yard lights and other debris on the stepping stones presumably so I trip over them and/or break them
• Left sticks, rocks, bricks, dog poop and other debris in front of our gate, presumably to trip us. (Technically no proof it was them, but come on)
• Today: Intentionally left their dog on the porch in 50*F weather so that it would bark at me as I passed, so that then they could open up their door and yell out "Well the baby WAS sleeping!" and then slam it shut
• A couple nights ago I found a note at the foot of my door that reads: "A peeping tom lives here!" (presumably it was stuck to my door, but fell off)
• Joined the HOA board. (I will likely be looking to do this as well, just to combat anything stupid they try to do)

My dad has cut all contact with them (he was friendly with them when we first got the condo, even having them over for drinks in his backyard), and resorted to walking through the muddy drainage ditch between the condo buildings. I, out of principle, refuse to do this, as its my understanding that the area in question is a common area, and that I, a resident of the building, have every right to traverse it at any hour I please. I am not responsible for their dogs barking. After all, you don't get mad at someone walking down a sidewalk when your dog barks at them right?

My friends recommended I file a harassment complaint with the police after the "Peeping Tom" note on my door. I don't really like cops, so I'm hesitant to get them involved, but I did save the note. All of this is documented in timestamped Discord DMs between a friend and I dating back months. I could simply appease them by going around the building, but honestly I f**king hate that idea. I refuse to walk through mud and their dog's sh*t just to shut them up, but their behavior has felt increasingly threatening these past few weeks.

I guess my main questions are:

• Would the space around a shared condo building actually be considered shared between residents/public? (As far as I can tell, its all part of the condo complex's land)
• Should I file something with the police and what would that be?
• How can I protect myself from them accusing me of something I didn't do? (Peeping Tom note, breaking something, etc.)