A Georgia woman confronted a squatter in her home, but it turned out to be the homeowner who was handcuffed and taken away and taken to jail, multiple reports say.
Loretha Hale said WSB TV She has been encountering squatters since at least August. Hale said she contacted police about the person living in a home she owns. Livingston is about 130 miles northeast of Atlanta, near the Alabama border.
Authorities claimed they heard Hale say, “Leave before I get the gun.”
The alleged squatter, Sakemeia Johnson, reportedly lived in the home with a former tenant.
However, the former tenants were evicted from the premises and Mr Johnson was initially given a trespass order.
of new york post The court ordered Johnson to leave the house in mid-November, the report said.
However, Clayton County Magistrate Court Judge Latrevia Cates-Johnson ruled that “Sakemeia Johnson is not a squatter,” and Hale noted that Johnson was not her tenant.
Hale confronted the alleged squatter again on Dec. 9 when he went inside the house to paint in preparation for the next tenant.
Ms Hale claimed Ms Johnson had “broken the lock” to her property in order to gain entry to her home.
“She followed me out of nowhere. She had a guy with her and I locked the door. I locked the screen door and he told us to leave. I forced myself,” Hale told WSB.
Hale reportedly contacted police to resolve the situation.
However, it was Hale, not the squatter, who ended up in prison.
Police body camera video shows an officer lecturing Hale about his privilege.
“But think about it in this light: Not everyone is as lucky as you to have a bed. All the little things like having a bed in the house and food in the kitchen,” the officer told Hale. A cam video that reportedly shows the conversation.
In the video, Johnson reportedly says, “I got a summons written saying I'm a squatter. But the judge signed an order saying I'm not a squatter.” .
Hale reportedly insisted that the alleged squatter be charged with trespassing on his property.
However, police arrested Hale on charges of “committing an unlawful eviction and forcibly removing Mr. Johnson's belongings.” Authorities claimed they heard Hale say, “Leave before I get the gun.”
“I spent the night on a mat on a concrete floor in poor conditions. This squatter slept in my house while this woman was there.”
Hale was charged with misdemeanor terroristic threats and trespassing, while Johnson was reportedly not charged, according to WSB.
Officials argued that Mr. Hale did not have a “signed warrant of possession” to legally evict Mr. Johnson.
“There's something inherently wrong with this photo, seeing that woman go into my mother's house while I was in the police car,” Hale said. is wrong,” he said.
Mr Hale added: “There's no way she wouldn't be sulking when she's never had any kind of contractual relationship with this person.”
“I spent the night on a mat on a concrete floor in horrible conditions. This squatter slept in my house while this woman was there,” Hale said of the arrest.
Ms Hale said she had “no idea” when she would be able to return to her home.
“I spoke with the court last week and was informed that some evidentiary hearing will be scheduled for her appeal, even though she has not met any of the legal requirements to file an appeal.” Hale said. news nation. “Then I don't know why they're holding a hearing, but I haven't received any notice of a date.”
You can view the video report here About the controversy.
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