1776Reporting
A Georgia homeowner, Loletha Hale, found herself arrested and charged with criminal trespass after trying to move back into her own house, which she says had been taken over by a squatter. The bizarre and unsettling series of events has sparked a conversation about the growing issue of squatting in Georgia.
An Upside-Down Situation
“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,” Hale told WSB-TV, expressing her disbelief at the situation.
On December 9, Hale returned to her property to clean up after a judge had ruled in her favor following months of legal battles with Sakemeyia Johnson, the alleged squatter. She assumed the ordeal was over, but instead, her actions led to her arrest.
Police Cite “Illegal Eviction”
Hale’s arrest came after police alleged she “executed an illegal eviction and forcibly removed Ms. Johnson’s belongings.” The homeowner was taken into custody and reportedly spent the night in jail under dire conditions.
“I spent the night on a mat on a concrete floor in deplorable conditions. While this woman, this squatter, slept in my home,” Hale shared with the outlet, highlighting the stark injustice she felt.
Police claimed that Hale lacked a “signed writ of possession,” a crucial document that legally permits an eviction. Without it, her actions were deemed unlawful, despite her belief that the court’s ruling in her favor gave her the green light.
Clash of Perspectives
Johnson, the alleged squatter, told police a different story. “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 recounted.
Hale, however, said she had assumed Johnson had moved out after the court victory. “I returned on Monday to start painting, and she had broken the locks at my property,” Hale explained, emphasizing her shock at finding Johnson still in the home.
Notably, Johnson has not been charged with any crimes, leaving Hale and others questioning the fairness of the situation.
A Growing Crisis in Georgia
Hale’s story is just one example of a troubling trend. Reports indicate a significant increase in squatting cases in Georgia in recent years.
The Pacific Legal Foundation noted that squatter-related court cases began to rise in 2019. In 2017, there were only three such cases in Georgia, but by 2021, that number had ballooned to 50. In 2023, the state saw a staggering 198 civil court cases involving squatting.
A Community Seeking Answers
As squatting incidents rise, questions about property rights, legal protections, and law enforcement’s role remain hotly debated. The Clayton County Police Department has yet to respond to media inquiries about the Hale incident, leaving the community searching for clarity in what feels like an increasingly chaotic legal landscape.
For Hale, the ordeal is a harsh reminder of the complexities of property ownership and the challenges of reclaiming what is rightfully hers. As she navigates the aftermath of her arrest, her story shines a light on a growing issue that many homeowners may face in the future.
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