A Georgia homeowner was arrested on December 9 for criminal trespass after attempting to move back into her house, which was reportedly inhabited by a squatter.
The incident occurred after a judge ruled in a lengthy battle over the property in the homeowner’s favour.
Loletha Hale, the homeowner, told WSB-TV, “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 had returned to her property to clean up after months of legal disputes with Sakemeyia Johnson, the alleged squatter.
According to police reports, Hale had attempted to forcibly remove Johnson’s belongings from the home, which led to the criminal trespass charges.
Hale expressed her frustration, saying, “I spent the night on a mat on a concrete floor in deplorable conditions while this woman, this squatter, slept in my home.”
The police confirmed that Hale did not possess a “signed writ of possession,” a necessary legal document allowing her to evict Johnson. Johnson, who has not been charged with crimes, recalled the incident, saying, “She just caught up out of nowhere.
She had this guy with her, and I locked the door. I locked the screen door, and he forced himself to tell us to get out.”
Hale believed Johnson had moved out following a November court victory. She told WSB-TV, “I returned on Monday to start painting, and she had broken the locks at my property.”
Squatter cases in Georgia have been on the rise in recent years. According to a report from the Pacific Legal Foundation, the number of squatter-related cases in the state increased significantly between 2017 and 2021, from just three cases to 50. In 2023, there were 198 civil court cases involving squatting in Georgia.
The Clayton County Police Department did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
