A Georgia homeowner ended up in jail after trying to remove an alleged squatter from her property.
Key Facts:
– Homeowner: Loletha Hale, arrested on December 9 for criminal trespass.
– Alleged Squatter: Identified as Sakemeyia Johnson, who stayed in Hale’s house despite a judge ruling in Hale’s favor.
– Cause for Arrest: Police said Hale removed Johnson’s belongings without having a signed writ of possession.
– Legal Trend: Squatter cases in Georgia grew from 3 in 2017 to 198 in 2023, according to court filings.
The Rest of The Story:
After Hale won a legal case against Johnson, she returned to her house to clean up.
She believed Johnson had already moved out, but police claim Hale forcibly removed Johnson’s belongings without proper eviction documents.
When officers arrived, Hale was the one taken into custody for criminal trespass, even though a judge had ruled in her favor a few weeks before.
Hale spent the night in jail while Johnson continued to occupy the home.
Johnson has not been charged, and authorities cite the absence of an official writ of possession as the reason Hale’s actions were labeled an illegal eviction.
INSANE. A Georgia homeowner was thrown in jail for criminal trespass after she called the police on a squatter in her home.
A police officer told her to look at things from the squatter’s point of view because not everyone is as fortunate as her to have a bed. pic.twitter.com/g9mq98ywPr
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) December 22, 2024
Commentary:
This situation is unacceptable.
Homeowners should never be arrested for trying to reclaim their own property from squatters.
People who choose to live on someone else’s property without permission should have zero rights and be treated as criminals.
Property owners should not be forced into lengthy court battles just to have their own homes back.
The moment a person illegally occupies a house, law enforcement should have the power to remove them and protect the rightful owner’s rights.
The Bottom Line:
Even with a favorable court ruling, a homeowner can face jail if they lack the right paperwork.
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