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A Georgia homeowner faced a nightmarish situation when she was arrested for attempting to regain control of her own property from an alleged squatter.
The property owner, Loletha Hale, ended up in custody facing charges of criminal trespass and terroristic threats following a confrontation with Sakemeyia Johnson, who had been occupying her home unlawfully.
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
Despite having a magistrate judge’s decision in her favor, Hale found herself in legal trouble for conducting what authorities deemed an illegal eviction because she didn’t have a signed writ of possession, according to WSB-TV Atlanta.
The situation began unfolding in August when Hale discovered Johnson living in her property. Johnson claimed legitimacy through a peculiar ruling by Clayton County Magistrate Judge Latrevia Lates-Johnson, who determined Johnson wasn’t a squatter due to her connection with a former tenant’s partner.
Following months of legal complications, including Johnson’s strategic bankruptcy filing to postpone proceedings, Hale finally secured a court ruling confirming her ownership rights.
When Hale returned to her property believing it was empty and ready for cleaning, she encountered Johnson, who had allegedly re-entered the home. The ensuing confrontation resulted in Hale’s arrest, while Johnson faced no criminal charges.
“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.
LET ME SEE IF I GOT THIS BULLSHIT RIGHT!
Back in August Loletha Hale came home and found a muthafucking squatter in her home.
She called the police.
The judge said Sakemeyia Johnson is not a squatter because she’s related to a previously evicted tenant’s partner.
The…
— Lavern Spicer 🇺🇸 (@lavern_spicer) December 22, 2024
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.
