Horrible neighbors

@bdugas (3578)
United States
June 27, 2008 5:37am CST
We livein a small town in south west Ohio, we are here because of the hurricane, my daughter lives a couple doors down from us. This whole street is apartment building on both side as we live on one side there is a building across the street, that has 4 apartments in it. The landlord apparently doesn't do much in the way of screening the people he rents from. The people in the bottom right side used to live over here and moved across the street when they was evicted for non payment of rent and nearly destroying the apartment, our landlord sued them in court for his money and damages. So now they are mad,and they are out to get whoever lives over here. Yesterday around 1:30 they kept firing off firecrackers across the street out between the buildings, for what reason I don't know if they thought someone called the police as firecrackers are illegal here. But my grandson, drove by and he didn't even get in the house at my daughter's when the police pulled up, this was about 3pm, they said that the apartment across the street had called saying he was throwing firecrackers out the window of his truck as he passed. My daughter called here wanting to know if we heard the firecrackers and my husband said yes he did from across the street, she told him to come talk to the cops because they was there to arrest my grandson. he went over they went back to the apartment, and the whole bunchof them was out in the yard there was remennents of the firecrackers on the street and they all signed papers that my grandson did it. This was an hour and a half later Matt was not even around he was still at his apartment. I went and ask why couldn't we go to the police station and file charges against them having the firecrackers, and they said we could not prove it, just by saying they had them. So after a long battle they decided that although they could not prove he did or did not do this, and 5of them signed papers that they saw him throw them, they gave him a sitation to appear in court. When I was comong back to the apartment they was standing out there laughing, I think it is a bunch of cra*p that as tenants here we have to put up with this kind of cra*p because the court awarded out landlord his money from these awful people. Oh and by the way they have been evicted over there too. I was boiling mad and they knew it. Seems trash like this is always getting away with this kind of stuff. What do you think should of happened, didn't we have the right to file charges against them also.
3 people like this
10 responses
@ellie333 (21016)
27 Jun 08
This is a very unsavoury situation that you are living in and they are in fact harrassing by doing this If the police were made aware of the history and why they are saying your grandon done it they should have allowed to file charges too. You say they are being eviced from over there so hopefully oce they are gone there should be no more trouble. Ellie :D
1 person likes this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
27 Jun 08
I think you need to find out who really did it. They could ruin your grandson's background check for future employemnt. Supena them, have them come swear in court they saw him. Have them questioned one by one by an investigator and describe what happened. Get a lawyer and have them wait outside until called in. If they're making it up, their stories shouldn't match. So they should be interviewed one by one without a chance to get their stories together. Your grandson needs to think of who saw him at a different time and place than there. supeona him/her/them. If you can prove they lied and/or that he wasn't there, then the next time they call the police, the police won't be in such a hurry to believe them and arrest someone. What did the police do with the evidence? Is it bagged? Are there any fingerprints on the remnants? Get a lawyer to have the evidence checked. Maybe there are no prints or no prints left. Countercharges sound like you just want revenge or to intimidate them to drop the charges, the police aren't going to go for that. Prove they did it. It's 5 people's word against his. Or at least prove he didn't do it. In so doing, you may end up proving he did it. We had people say my brother tried to run someone over in his car while he was sleeping. But his car engine was cold. So how do you do that? If he didn't do it, something will help him prove it.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
27 Jun 08
That was supposed to be, In so doing you may prove they did it not he did it. If you watch the crime shows, there is almost always something that gives the criminals away. You may be able to get a witness to say they were laughing and bragging about setting your grandson up. Explore the possibilities through someone else so you don't get hurt.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
28 Jun 08
You watched them for over an hour and you didn't call the police? It's whoever calls the police first that they believe, the other person who says something afterward is just retalliating (spelling?). You didn't videotape it or use a camera to snap a picture? It went on for over an hour and no one videoed or took pictures? Are other neighbors, way more than 5 willing to say they saw that? Did other neighbors take pictures or video it? Did the kids video or take pictures of themselves?
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
28 Jun 08
I didn't say you needed to get even with anyone, I'm telling you what the police think and what I would think if I were them. Every time there is a neighbor dispute, the other neighbor wants to countercharge.
@youdontsay (3497)
• United States
27 Jun 08
I know how hard it is to live in small towns where the police department is overworked and understaffed. They don't take much time to deal with neighborhood conflicts. When your son goes to court be sure he takes paperwork that shows where he was at the time of the incident. Then suggest they charge the neighbors with filing a false report at the very least. It is so frustrating when you are trying so hard to get your life together and the people around you are seemingly creating more problems. I pray that it gets resolved to your benefit and that you get back on your feet very soon.
@checapricorn (16061)
• United States
27 Jun 08
Hi there bdugas,, I'm sorry to hear this story and I can't believe there are horrible, bad,immature and heartless people who can afford to do that! Maybe you can ask anyone who live near them and ask them if they heard it and if they can witness against these people? I hope your grandson will be free from this, he don't deserve this and I wish there will be "karma"for these people, if you can gather also witnesses in your area, that will be better, I am sure a lot of people there doesn't like these horrible neighbors!
@trowbdon (167)
• Canada
27 Jun 08
Where was he when the firecrakers were going off?? Maybe someone there can give a witness statment as to his location at the time.
@bdugas (3578)
• United States
27 Jun 08
He was stillin bed at his house he was suppose to have set off bottle rocket while he was driving an shifting gears.
@bluemars (952)
• Australia
28 Jun 08
Oh that does not sound good at all but I know how it feels when you don't have friendly and nice people to live around. I personally am one who like to keep to herself and actually prefer a neighbor to do the same. However I do expect them to be a good citizen too as I do the same and try to be thoughtful and not create any problems either. I do feel bad for some tenants who have to suffer at the expense of others. I think it can get pretty bad too if things are not controlled too. Oh I would if I were you get evidence anyway you can by taking photos or filming them but do it discreetly and that way they can be none the wiser when they get in trouble for it.
@sweetdesign (5142)
• United States
27 Jun 08
Oh your poor grandson. those people are horrible. I hope there is someway you can catch them in their law breaking. Do you have a camcorder? Or know someone who does? They sound like real pieces of work. Horrible people.
@Bluepatch (2476)
• Trinidad And Tobago
27 Jun 08
I'm glad I don't have neighbours like that. What you need maybe is to get a policeman or a professional witness to stay awhile and see what these people do. Or buy a camera and take pictures of them doing it. Its awful the standard of behaviour that exists all over. People have become rudimentary criminals from young and it spreads throughout the entire society. Wouldn't it be good if you got a camera, kept it for a couple weeks, took all the pictures you want of everything and then handed the whole lot to a good lawyer or a good cop. They'll respect you after that.
• United States
27 Jun 08
That is terrible. I am from ohio. I recently moved to Kentucky. As much as I hate to say it, people in Ohio are usually rude and do stuff like this to other people. A lot of the people in the state are just horrid. I am very sorry for what happened to you, and hopefully those people get what they deserve in the end. Just try to stay positive.
@ZephyrSun (7381)
• United States
27 Jun 08
I am so sorry to hear of your situation. I have been in property management and now just do consulting work for property owners on occasion. It is so hard in Ohio (that is my state as well) so many landlords do not care who lives in the apartment they just let the first person with cash get the place and once they are in then it is very hard to get them out. The courts are very in favor of tenants. I hope everything works out for your family. Good luck!