Police no help in removing squatters, sex offender allowed to stay | FOX 5 News
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- Опубліковано 1 лис 2023
- By Dana Fowle
Aired November 1, 2023
TUCKER, Ga. - Much has been made over the years of squatters' rights. "Squatting" is when someone lives in a home, likely rent-free, and has to be kicked out by the courts. Well, here's a case with a street-side view into one of the most bizarre cases of trying to evict someone you may ever see.
This story involves a legitimate homeowner, a home for sale, and a convicted child sex trafficker. Guess who has the upper hand? It’s the kind of tale that makes homeowners and landlords confused about whose side the law is on.
Meet Ronan McCabe.
"This is my home. And there's somebody in there, an intruder in there, intruders, who I do not know," he said.
FOX 5 I-Team reporter Dana Fowle stood with him at the edge of his wooded corner lot in Tucker. The home was posted as plain as day online for sale, not for rent. On closing day, homeowner Ronan McCabe discovered people - strangers - had moved in and changed the locks.
"They broke into my house and moved in. All the locks had been changed," he told FOX 5.
Just four days before, McCabe called Gwinnett County police. The home had been empty for just a few weeks before it was filled with the strangers' furniture. He says the couple inside told police they had a lease.
"They have no contract, no agreement, with me," he assured FOX 5 and law enforcement. "Gwinnett County police are saying there is nothing they can do."
This was a Friday. He was told to go to the magistrate court the following Monday and file a dispossessory notice, which meant going through a lengthy evictions process in a backed-up court system to get his home back.
Just a day earlier, that man in the house, calling himself "Raymond Cortez," sent McCabe a text saying he would leave, for a price.
"Dana, that's a shakedown. That's a shakedown. You kidding me? They want me to pay them to leave my home. That's scandalous."
Frustrated and distressed as he now had his house sale on hold, Ronan McCabe called the FOX 5 I-Team. FOX 5 met him at the house, triggering the "Raymond" to text him again.
McCabe read the text out loud: "I’m calling the cops. I’m with my attorney drawing up a lawsuit."
The house squatter told police earlier that he was a member of the "Sovereign Citizens Movement." They don’t believe in government, identification, taxes - things like that. Ironically, he didn’t mind calling the authorities to help him stay in a home he doesn’t own.
The Gwinnett County Police Department arrived for the third time in five days. But this trip was different. Things had changed, very quickly.
A woman who told police she was the man's wife abruptly left. The man calling himself Raymond came out, went back in, then suddenly U.S. Marshals started flooding the street. It seems they had a parallel investigation.
"Raymond Cortez" was really Ramon Fuertes III, and he was a wanted man.
After busting down the door and sliding him across a floor covered in water and soap - meant to trip up police - they had him. Police and court documents show Fuertes is a convicted federal felon. He had been in federal prison for child sex trafficking, accused of prostituting a young teen he called "Lollipop."
Fuertes was wanted for failing to register as sex offender after his release.
Finally over, right? Nope. The female was back in the home. She hadn't been arrested for anything.
After the homeowner, Ronan McCabe, told an officer he wanted her out, the officer said, "You can ask, but it might not pan out."
The homeowner could be right back where he started; she would need to be evicted.
But finally, Ronan McCabe got a break.
This time, officers told her if she couldn't provide proof she was a legitimate tenent, she could be charged with criminal trespass if she didn't leave.
She left. But, she was never charged with moving into a stranger's home and refusing to leave. In fact, she was given several hours to gather her things.
The house was ultimately sold a few days later.
McCabe, an Irishman, has been in the United States since the 90s. He's a US citizen. He will tell you he loves this country, but finds the rights of squatters simply baffling.
"America is a fantastic country, and I never ever thought something like this would happen in America. A man's home is his castle," he said.
How you can protect your home from squatters
If you have a house for sale or for rent, make sure it is lived in or at least looks lived in:
- Fill it with furniture.
- Keep a car in the driveway.
- Go by regularly to make sure the "for sale" or "for rent" sign is still in the yard. They're often
removed very quickly by people planning to overtake your home.
- Go inside and check on the home.
A key takeaway is not to put up a sign, move out, and not return for weeks. You just might find a surprise.
Squatters should have no rights.
None
Absolutely none & make it easier for the true homeowner to get their property back without going to
😲😯😮😲😯😮😲 court!!!!!
Agree, squatting should be a class a felony
I think all you need is proof that you own the house! Plain and simple!!!
You think that until an actual renter is getting screwed over by a landlord and all they have to do is call them “squatters” to get them out.
These are the events that make people take the law into their own hands.
He was arrested by Marshalls… did you even watch the video?
Its called….”FAFO!!!” 💀
No one makes someone take long to their own hands. People choose to take the law into their own hands, at which point they become criminals too. Don’t be stupid.
@Robbieo1238 yeah but only because he had a warrant. If he didn't, they would have AGAIN left the house like "🤷 nothing we can do". Most of these stories end by the owner breaking back into their own home and fixing it themselves cuz cops won't do anything
LOOK be careful because people are leasing and renting other peoples homes out. They were most likely scammed. I'm shocked the new ran with them being squatter they stated they legitimately rented the home.
I don’t care what the law says you try this with my property I'm not calling the cops that's all I’m going to say.
@@rhonda2260 for real they need to change that law asap it makes zero sense!
It's called braking and entering!
Unfortunately if you lay one hand on the squatters you'll be the one in jail.
@@josron6088 Fine by me I'll make bail before they get out the hospital lol.
“that’s all I’m going to say”
Then, proceeds to leave multiple follow-up comments explicitly describing the intent to commit bodily harm.
You must be a genius.
@@allemander I never explicitly described doing anything you might wanna go back and read the comments if you know how to read. Which I highly doubt genius.
Criminals have more rights than law abiding citizens….
They definitely do in blue areas.
@@roddycreswell8613 NO, the actual criminals with more rights seam to be members of the GOP. How about tRump and all his enablers for starters.🤡
Georgia isn't blue ...has had Republicans in charge for years .hopefully they will do something
Woke mind virus stuff
This isn’t new news 🤷🏼♂️. Criminals will always have more rights than law abiding citizens. Why do you think the process to successfully prosecute a criminal is so complex and full of technicalities? 😑
This was handled the new school way. The old school way would of had a much more efficient outcome.
Right. Try this bs in a small town. lol
Squatters rights are ridiculous.
They don't pay. They don't have a tenancy/lease. They break in. They change the locks. They can cause damage. They get away with theft.
Squatters shouldn't have rights to someone else's home. The fact that the home owner has to get court orders and eviction notices to get them out is pathetic.
It's the same in England.
Well, if they can break into my home, I will also break into my home, and I will claim self-defence when a fight breaks out.
"I was in the bathroom when I heard glass smash. I thought it was outside until I heard voices coming from the living room. I was just protecting myself, Officer."
Old School Way is always the Easy Way and Easy Way works just fine for me...
@@Dondizle Correct 💯
Love the for sale and obituary notices! Live Rent Free until evicted!.
Sad thing is if a squatter was in a judges home or politician or cop's home these squatters would be immediately ARRESTED, the citizens would get no help just double talk or go through the court system.
How do you know this?
@@BlueSoldier87Glen is right. This happened to a politician here in Georgia. That female politician made some serious changes and those felony criminals were removed in a matter of days and rearrested.
No they wouldn’t. Don’t be stupid.
Love the for sale and obituary notices! Live Rent Free until evicted!
So true.
LAWMAKERS, GET THIS FIXED!!!
Lawmakers were the ones that made this.
@petergriffinson1907 If it was the law makers house, there would have been a different result.
Too weak and stupid. It is called an intruders warrant. It is simple but police act dumb as f.
Phil wood u r a dumb dumb
The Progressive left is a combination of Marxism and identity ideology. They consider squatters poor and thus "marginalized" and will always defend them.
Some one PLEASE explain why they weren't removed immediately for CRIMINAL TRESSPASS? These people hadn't even occupied the residence for an entire month! How would squatters rights even apply?
Maybe research the laws of that state yourself and find out
The squatters will get zero jailtime and most likely receive state funding for being "frictionally unhomed".
they had forged paperwork
The quick answer is because they established residency.
I'm an attorney.
@@yeah_right88 Thanks. I'm surprised that 'residency' can be established so quickly. What does it take exactly to establish residency typically? I've thought that mail being sent to you will do it &/or having an utility in your name. Idk if those are accurate. I haven't heard if there is a matter, or length of time that factors in. Is there?
Squatters should have ZERO RIGHTS period. The term squatter is explanation enough to make them leave. This has become a nationwide disgrace and travesty 😡😡😡
Trespassing and breaking and entering are against the law. Why is this even an issue?
Just imagine if he WASN'T wanted. This is insane. There is no way in hell a homeowner should have to go through this.
People are going to start going back to the old ways pretty soon. This is ridiculous.
Cops never heard of trespassing?
Police are becoming useless.
Cops are useless. They only trespass people if they're filming on public property or waiting for their girlfriend to finish getting her nails done.
I want to know why isn’t it considered breaking and entering?? What ever happened to being arrested for that? It’s so ridiculous that homeowners have to jump through hoops to get THEIR own home back!!!
Cause no one lives there
And the police who went their originally never got an ID on the man who’s a WANTED FELON! 👏
The law is on the criminals side when it comes to squatters... as a homeowner this is scary and infuriating.. these trespassers have more rights to someone else's home than the actual homeowner
Funny how quick the BS went out the window when the cops all of a sudden have a keen interest of that person squatting was?
The key is draft up a lease for your friend and they move in and change the locks. When the illegal squatters come home, threaten the police for YOUR home.
there are people who offer squatter removal services, you dont "pay them" to do it. just gotta sign up lol
If they actually leave, YOU can break in to your own home and defend it against intruders.
Cops will come on the double if you tell the 911 operator that you are in your home and armed and someone is trying to break in.
Love the for sale and obituary notices! Live Rent Free until evicted!
Criminals have more rights than law-abiding citizens
So I know the loophole to the squatter loophole. Go ahead and write a rental agreement to a family member and when you see squatters, and the police show up, just show the rental agreement to police and they will get kicked the squatters out immediately as it's already "rented" to someone -which means they are trespassing even if they show a fake rental paper. By the eyes of the law, the person who is legit renting has the rights to occupancy aka the family member you rented to. Even if they show a doctored up paper, you would have one (as the him owner) to rent to said family member so they will have no grounds to be there. In fact, "claim" all the stuff inside it yours and take all their stuff once they get booted out.
That family member would need to have a date BEFORE the criminal's or it's not valid
You should just change the locks and then wait inside with ownership paperwork prepared while they're away. Preferably with some tough guys for your safety. Rental agreement for someone staying inside can be a bonus. If you call the police first, you lost the chance doing so, as squatters will be officially established as rightfully staying in place.
I'm so glad I live in a state where this is NEVER NEVER an issue!!
You don’t know that wth 🤦🏽♀️ 😂
what state is that?
No state. Cause this give criminals extra due process is bad. They use it to stall
Trump included
😂🤣Coming soon 😂
The law needs to be changed when it comes to squatters
This is so mf infuriating 🤬
Dont leave house vacant. Pay someone to stay until sold.
I'd really rather pay a house sitter to stay in the house till the it sells. Peace of mind would be worth it nowadays!
Why the hell would the home owner call the cops in the 1st place? I WISH A CORTEZ WOULD!
😅😅😅😅😅EXACTLY!😅😅😅😅😅
If anyone ever tries this w me or any of my loved ones I can go do some jail time, Not happening! I woulda made bro run out my house or I woulda took him out in the woods W A shovel LOL not today brah.
So if you kick the door in and start throwing their crap outside, what will the police do? You show them you own the house. Are the cops going to arrest you for cleaning out your own property?
Yes people have gotten sued by squatters!! It's bizarre af
Nice angle to the story and for anyone leaving a house empty, you got to put surveillance camera and better yet I know people who use drones to check on their property. That man is so lucky that squatter has priors that worked against him.
Technically anyone can leave for work and a squatter can just take it over, trash it, then leave.
@@user-sj5ju4jb7t That's not squatting, it's burglary/vandalism. Attempting to LIVE there is squatting... which is nigh on impossible in a single 10 hour day.
Because when you show up from work and gun them down, it's trespassers... not a squatter.
@@amzarnacht6710 it doesn’t take 10hrs to type up a lease and change some locks. If the definition of squatter is someone with a lease and keys to the house then that does not take 10hrs to do. I’m surprised that with such a massive loophole people literally don’t just take homes after the owner leaves for work… but lol I suspect it’ll start happening when more people pick up on how easy it is plus they don’t get charged with anything so there’s really no downside for them.
It's Atlanta. For $300 you can find someone to take care of this problem without ever having to deal with the police or the bureaucratic court system.
Yeah, right.
And then it goes badly and you end up doing 30 years jail time for hiring a hit man 😂
@@TryABaconSlice If you're not a moron it would be done anonymously.
@@TryABaconSlicewho said anything about a hitman?
You can hire someone to squat on the squatters. They sign an actual lease with the home owner, and then they scope the house and wait for the squatters to leave the house - they immediately move in, change the locks and put all the squatters stuff on the driveway and in some cases they even advertise a free yard sale and people come and pick their stuff up. Seen it happen as a friend of mine did it for a living for a year!
Disgusting and shame in the legal system.
Don’t blame the entire legal system. That would be stupid.
@@tominmtnvw Did I say ENTIRE legal system? That would be NO.
blame yourself for standing by and doing nothing about it, but cry on here.@@UK1uno
@@tominmtnvwballsniffer.
OMG!! THESE laws need to be fixed now!!!!
This is why more houses should get more burger bars and/or gates. The fact that even sex offenders could break into your house is scary.
Well that is burglary but they want to give pieces of sh.. that don't work, pay taxes, just mooch off of other people.
Bro, this is burglary. I mean how are they not ……this just makes no sense
Why was the cop so short with the homeowner? " You can ask but she doesn't have to leave " and it was the way he said this was rude and sounded like he was on the squatters side . I don't think squatters should have any rights If you can prove the house is yours then they should have to get out .
Because cops are trash.
Except the fact people either rent houses then decide to sell without telling the tenants and potential buyers that they rent the house or that the tenant will be out before closing when not true or the new owner just want to kick out the tenant right away and the current tenant is screwed. Or the old owner wants to make a quick few scam bucks and rents right before closing. To the police it is very hard to tell if it is a legitimate tenant getting screwed by the new owner or a squatter.
@@TheBaldrno it's pretty obvious. Don't defend them
Wow, don't live in Georgia! That's ridiculous.
This happens in all states but we know you slow.
I had a visitor stop by, he was invited in for coffee. We chatted for about two hours and I told him I needed to retire for the evening and thanks for stopping by. He said he wasn't leaving. When the cops arrived, he told them that he lived there. The cops said it was a civil matter. Ladies....be careful who you let in your homes. Or do what I did after....let NO ONE in your home (talk outside on the porch).
Then I would close and lock the door and say "Now youse CAN'T leave!"
If a stranger came by, they are speaking to me outside. That's automatic!
I don't let anyone in my home. I trust no one!
This is straight out sick. you tell the police you live some place, and they just believe you.
Squatters need to be charged as soon as they step foot in your door
1st mistake, called the cops.
It's a lawless country today.😢
These people who are in power is actually lawless, they just play their roles very well
The guy was literally arrested. What do you want,
B Im no j😊 ji😊
Jubón juib😅 bb in
These guys should do jail time
why are sovereign citizens allowed to live outside of prison?
Why hasn’t law change yet??? RIDICULOUS!!! This happens a lot here in Georgia
Why doesn't the reporter ask Georgia state lawmakers or city or county officials why squatters have so many rights? The Gwinnett police have nothing to do with squatters' rights. The police simply enforce laws, they do not make laws. Get a clue reporter! At your big age how do you not know government and civics basics??????? That squatters have rights means that somewhere either at the city or county or state level there are laws that have been established giving them rights. duh.
Why didn't his real estate agent do a walk thru day before closing?? He could have refused to close finding the people in there. I'm a real estate agent, I would never let my buyers go to closing unless doing a walk thru!!
That's my thought as I know I would not be a happier camper if I saw folks in my home
Prevent it by doing a walk thru before closing!
The headline is misleading. The sex offender wasn't "allowed" to stay. The cops just didn't know he was a sex offender at the time. As soon as they found out, they came in guns blazing to pull him out for failure to report. That's the only reason he's out of the house now. If he weren't a sex offender registrant, or if he had registered that address, he'd still be there now.
And THAT is the shame in all this.
What happen to breaking and entering? What the heck?
This is so wrong on so many levels how can you get take over somebody else’s home and the law protects you
How was the squatter able to text the homeowner? I mean how'd he get his phone number if they never met...?
The way you deal with this is get your family and friends all together at once break the lock off again walk in make yourself at home and tell them to call the police its a civil matter😂😂😂😂
Yes, but it only works if you did not call the police first.
Convicted child sex trafficker and he’s out?! I’m so done with this, I just can’t anymore!
Sounds like the police only want to help when there’s $ to be made, or someone has the audacity to not ‘respect their authoriti’. 😂
Correct. Non revenue arrests are frowned upon. Only arrest people with a checking account. No one else has to follow the rules.
Learn the laws folks!! You walking blind if you don’t
We need laws against sqautters ...
Imagine setting a boobie trap for the cops and they end up literally dragging your behind through it😂😂😂😂😂
😮this is pathetic when a legitimate property owner tax payer is subjected to this type of insane injustice, especially when it’s blatantly clear the homeowner is in the right. These squatters rights have to be changed in favor of the property owner. Period! Politicians,city councils are you listening.🤨
How crazy
Very wild I said the same
How is it not breaking and entering?
Why wasn't that lady arrested for aiding and abedding a federal fugitive?
In Cali some squatters tried to take a mansion and was only there less than a week before they were quickly evicted. Common folks don't get the same preferential treatment as rich folk which shouldn't be the case especially if both are law abiding citizens.
So...Trespassing is legal *if you do it in a specific way?*
INSANE!!!
Enough is enough!
Michigan changed squatting from a civil issue to a criminal one - and now squatters are arrested very quickly. Why other states aren't following them I don't know.
Interesting. As someone who used to rent properties for a variety of owners, you should see the immoral things they do to renters to get back at them for requesting repairs or calling to render a promised service. Some homeowners will be vindictive and sabatage the history of an honest renter which sometimes leads to squatters.
So the problem is twofold whether we accept it or not. We need to find a way to interrupt the rights of squatters but we also need someone to regulate the treatment of tenants that are rightfully in a lease that are retaliated against for putting pressure on landlords to fulfill their promises.
So true.
People need to let their lawmakers know this is unacceptable. Laws need to be passed to protect property owners.
We have come to a place where Right is Wrong and Wrong is now Right. A totally upside-down world!!
Squatters have the right to get a tune up by the homeowner's friends
I just signed him up for information about every church i could think of
I read a story about a senior lady who moved into an apartment and rented her house while she was doing some repairs so she could fix it up for new tenants squatters moved in she tried everything to get them out they were there for several months when her son came up with an idea he had his mother sign a lease with him, he watched the house and found out the times they would be there and when they were out, I day they left the son and some of his friends moved everything out of the house and put up security cameras when they returned he told them he had a lease and was there legally they called the police when the police arrived he showed the police his lease there was nothing the police could do. I think his idea was ingenious. 😁👍
This would have been a simple arrest. It’s a simple criminal trespassing charge.
Should have taken only about an hour.
Why even a convicted child sex trafficker out of prison in the first place 😮
I fail to comprehend how to evict someone living in a house rent free with no legal contract with the owner, the owner is forced to legitimize their residency by going thru a legal eviction.
What kind of realtor just puts up a for sale sign and doesn't check on the property they're selling for weeks?
Literally all of them? The "profession" is absolutely lousy with washouts from other fields who didn't have the work ethic to sustain a 8-5 long term, so I don't know why one exhibiting lazy corner-cutting practices would come as a particular surprise to anyone...
@drmwpn neither of you actually listen to the story. The people moved in the same day the homeowner went to closing. At that point the realtor has nothing to do with this issue. Here my issue the property owner had utilities turned on didn't he notice his usage going up in the few weeks? An empty house doesn't use utilities.
Why is it so hard to make "renters" produce a lease or get kicked out? Why not have a lease registry of some sort?
During the pandemic the federal government made it legal to stay in place without paying. The landlord still had to pay taxes and take care of the upkeep of the property.
Yes, everything got worse when our lunatic gov't decided to void contracts, property rights, and personal rights.
That happen to me and I had to take them to court. Different rules for different folks.
People has the power, I don't know why they can't enforce their authority.
Full and complete owners rights need to be restored. Squatters have no rights, if they are not truly in an abandoned property, with no objection from an owner.
My new homeowners policy had a questionnaire to complete before my policy started. It asked:
"Do you live alone and do you travel away from home overnight for more that 10 consecutive days."
Insurance companies are preparing for this to get worse!
These laws need to change. This is utter BS that someone broke into his house and changed the locks and lied saying they are renters when no proof of the renting. And what would happen had the homeowner shut off water and power? That’s what I would have done. I would make it as miserable as possible. The squatters rights need to be changed. These squatters shouldn’t be allowed to enter the home, move their crap and family inside, change the locks and change the address to the house.unbelievable
Who gave squatters rights?
You might not can make the squatter leave, but you can tow their car from the driveway. Property owner can tow renters cars at will.
So if the police go to work and someone squats in their home they cant remove them? 😂😂😂 Yeah right😂😂😂
This is WILD...😮
People need to invest in a house sitter during transactions and while the home is empty.
Funny how a house in the Hollywood hills had squatters and were trespassed immediately
There's so many loopholes when dealing with adverse possession
It's just as criminal in Ontario... Still waiting for eviction nearly a year on. Scandalous!
My tenant tried to screw me over when I was selling my duplex. I gave her cash for keys 🔑 and still refused to leave. I changed the locks. They tried to hinder my sale. Told people she's not paying rent and will stay as long as possible.
A coworker went to his squatted house at night and broke out most of the windows on a cold Janurary night in PA. They were gone the next day.
If the police won’t uphold the law then it’s up to the people to do it.
Another crime they didnt mention is the price of that house. 410k is absurd
Total insanity.
This is a failure of politicians not passing the proper laws. It's pathetic.
This is a disgrace ......Too many people in America that want to steal other people's property
My dad had this happen, the house caught fire not long after.
That's not squatting. That's breaking & entering, along with burglary...🙄🙄
Also destruction of property if they damage it and falsifying and forging false documents which are all felonys
Good job for the news outlet and anchor telling it how it is with no apologies. Policy/laws shouldn’t override moral principles.