Credit: Clayton County Sheriff’s Office
In a jaw-dropping display of injustice, a homeowner in Clayton County, Georgia, found herself behind bars after attempting to reclaim her own property from an alleged squatter.
Loletha Hale, the legal owner of the house, was arrested on charges of criminal trespass and making terroristic threats after a heated confrontation with the squatter, Sakemeyia Johnson, and her associates.
Despite having secured a magistrate judge’s ruling in her favor, Hale was accused of executing an “illegal eviction” because she lacked a signed writ of possession at the time, WSB-TV Atlanta reported.
The ordeal began in August when Hale discovered Johnson living in her home. Johnson claimed her presence was lawful, citing a ruling by Clayton County Magistrate Judge Latrevia Lates-Johnson, who controversially stated that Johnson was not a squatter due to her connection with a previously evicted tenant’s partner.
After months of legal battles, including Johnson filing for bankruptcy to delay proceedings, Hale finally received a court judgment affirming her ownership.
Believing the property to be vacated, Hale returned to clean and prepare the home for reoccupation. However, Johnson allegedly broke back in, leading to the volatile encounter that landed Hale in jail.
Meanwhile, the alleged squatter has not been charged for any criminal activity.
“I spent the night on a mat on a concrete floor in deplorable conditions. While this woman, this squatter slept in my home,” Hale told WSB-TV Atlanta.
More from the news outlet:
Clayton County police officers and Sheriff’s deputies were called to the home on Livingston Drive on Dec. 9.
A deputy can be heard on body camera footage telling Hale to look at things from the alleged squatter’s point of view.
“Just think of it from this perspective, though. Everybody isn’t as fortunate as you to have a bed. All the little things, a bed in their house, food in the kitchen,” the deputy said.
[…]
In the incident report, the responding deputy wrote that Hale “executed an illegal eviction and forcibly removed Ms. Johnson’s belongings.”
The incident report states that in cell phone video Hale “could clearly be heard stating ‘leave before I get my gun.’”
Officers on the scene confirmed with court staff that Hale has not obtained a signed writ of possession in order to legally evict a tenant.
WATCH:
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