(LibertySociety.com) – In a startling turn of events, a Georgia homeowner was arrested and charged with criminal trespass after attempting to move back into her own home, which had reportedly been occupied by a squatter. The incident has sparked outrage and drawn attention to the ongoing issue of squatting in the state.
The homeowner, Loletha Hale, recounted her frustration to WSB-TV, saying, “To see that woman walk into my mom’s house while I was in the police car, something is wrong with this picture. Something is inherently wrong with this picture.”
The Ordeal Begins
The ordeal began on December 9, when Hale returned to her property to clean up after a court victory in her months-long legal battle with Sakemeyia Johnson, the alleged squatter. A judge had previously ruled in Hale’s favor, but the process of legally reclaiming her home was far from over.
Dispute Over Eviction
According to police, Hale was arrested because she had “executed an illegal eviction and forcibly removed Ms. Johnson’s belongings” without possessing a signed writ of possession—a legal document authorizing her to evict Johnson.
Hale expressed her disbelief at the situation. “I spent the night on a mat on a concrete floor in deplorable conditions, while this woman, this squatter, slept in my home,” she said.
Johnson, for her part, claimed Hale had unlawfully entered the property. “She just caught up out of nowhere. She had this guy with him, and I locked the door. I locked the screen door, and he forced himself in telling us to get out,” Johnson told police.
Hale believed Johnson had vacated the property following the court ruling in November but discovered otherwise when she returned to the house and found the locks had been broken.
Rise in Squatting Cases
Georgia has faced a growing squatting crisis in recent years, with data from the Pacific Legal Foundation indicating a sharp increase in such cases. The number of incidents rose from three in 2017 to 198 in 2023. Squatters have increasingly taken advantage of legal loopholes, leaving homeowners like Hale in protracted battles to reclaim their properties.
Ongoing Legal Questions
Despite Hale’s arrest, Johnson has not been charged with any crimes. Hale remains baffled at the situation, describing her predicament as “unbelievable.”
The Clayton County Police Department has not commented on the case, and questions remain about why the legal system allowed such a scenario to unfold. For now, Hale’s ordeal underscores the challenges homeowners face when dealing with squatters and the complexities of Georgia’s property laws.
Copyright 2024, LibertySociety.com
