A homeowner in Clayton County, Georgia, found herself in a shocking legal predicament after attempting to reclaim her property from an alleged squatter.
Loletha Hale, the rightful owner of the home, was arrested on charges of criminal trespass and making terroristic threats during a confrontation with Sakemeyia Johnson, the woman occupying her property, and her associates.
Hale’s ordeal began in August when she discovered Johnson living in her home.
Johnson claimed her presence was lawful, citing a controversial ruling by Clayton County Magistrate Judge Latrevia Lates-Johnson, who determined that Johnson was not a squatter due to her association with a partner of a previously evicted tenant.
After months of legal disputes, including Johnson filing for bankruptcy to delay eviction proceedings, Hale eventually secured a court judgment affirming her ownership of the property.
However, she had not yet obtained a signed writ of possession, a legal requirement to enforce eviction in Georgia. Believing the property to be vacated, Hale returned to clean and prepare it for her own use. Johnson, however, allegedly broke back into the home, escalating tensions.
When a confrontation ensued, Clayton County police officers and sheriff’s deputies were called to the scene on Livingston Drive on December 9. During the incident, Hale reportedly told Johnson to leave and allegedly threatened to retrieve a firearm.
Body camera footage captured a deputy advising Hale to consider the alleged squatter’s perspective, saying, “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 responding deputy wrote in the incident report that Hale had “executed an illegal eviction and forcibly removed Ms. Johnson’s belongings.”
Cell phone video evidence allegedly recorded Hale saying, “Leave before I get my gun.”
Hale was subsequently arrested, spending a night in jail under conditions she described as deplorable. “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.
Meanwhile, Johnson, the alleged squatter, has not been charged with any criminal activity.
This case highlights ongoing tensions in Georgia’s property laws, particularly regarding the rights of property owners versus those of occupants who claim tenancy.
Despite the court ruling in Hale’s favor, the lack of a signed writ of possession meant she could not legally enforce the eviction.
Hale’s arrest has drawn attention to the challenges homeowners face when dealing with individuals occupying their properties.
While she awaits further legal proceedings, questions remain about the balance between protecting property rights and adhering to eviction procedures.
The situation has sparked debate over how law enforcement handles such cases, with some questioning the deputy’s approach and the broader legal framework that allowed the alleged squatter to remain in the home despite Hale’s ownership being upheld in court.
