A pair of Texas homeowners, Yudith Matthews and Abram Mendez, have finally managed to evict a contractor-turned-squatter from their new residence after an intense two-month battle with law enforcement. The couple claimed that the police made them feel like wrongdoers throughout the ordeal as they incurred approximately $17,000 worth of damages, utilities and court fees due to the squatter’s destructive behavior inside their home.
The contractor allegedly destroyed new plumbing work in the garage, barbecued indoors with a propane tank, sprayed mahogany cabinets with bleach mixture, smoked and urinated inside, broke doors and molding to facilitate legal entry and exit, turned off electricity when necessary, stole water from their property, left dishes unwashed in sinks, shined high-powered flashlights into the homeowners’ eyes, menaced them with bleach, flashed a knife during confrontations, and even bought a blender for continuous noise throughout the day.
The couple stated that they fell deeply in love with their seven-bedroom, three-bathroom house located in a peaceful neighborhood due to its ample space, nearby stream, large yard, and family suitability (ages 11, 10, and 8). However, the squatter allegedly bought himself special mounts for four guitars inside their home without permission. When police were initially called regarding this issue in February when he hadn’t been a resident long enough to be considered a squatter under Texas property law, officers did not make any efforts to verify his claims or even check identification cards; instead, they reportedly told him that “he had the right” to live there.
The couple claimed that police treated them like criminals and didn’t care because their superiors would cover them since it was a civil matter. They stated that this behavior made them feel disappointed as they no longer felt comfortable calling law enforcement when needed due to such treatment. The couple has filed complaints against the officers involved in one of these incidents, where an officer allegedly raised his voice and said he “didn’t have time” for their case.
The legal process became a full-time job as they couldn’t enter the house after footage was broadcasted on “FOX & Friends,” where confrontations took place in court, leading to emotional distress for both parties involved. The couple claimed that arriving police officers kicked away knives and told him he had rights when found with them during one of their many visits; this behavior left Matthews feeling threatened as the squatter allegedly shone high-wattage flashlights directly into her eyes on numerous occasions, in addition to threatening her by spraying bleach.
After four court appearances and paying a $300 fee for an eviction notice, they were finally able to post one onto their door. However, the couple is still going through legal proceedings as they inventory damages and stolen items while obtaining restraining orders against their former squatter. They claimed that law enforcement did not work in favor of them during this situation since it only began working for them after a month filled with bills, losses, more sanding, painting time taken up by the unruly intruder who had nothing to lose due to police entitlements.
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