Homeowner arrested after trying to evict squatters from his own property

A homeowner stopped by to check on his suburban Atlanta property — only to be arrested for trespassing.

Days after the departure of a previous tenant, Tim Arko pulled into the driveway of his house in desirable Decatur, where he suddenly encountered a stranger waving a gun in his face.

“I just jumped the fence and ran. I didn’t know what else to do,” Arko told local channel WSB-TV.

“I didn’t walk in on a family eating dinner. I walked in on weapons, a prostitute, a bunch of dogs in the back, my fence broken down,” he told a reporter.

After dialing 911 to report the intrusion, Arko was astonished to find himself being arrested and taken into police custody.

#atlanta #timarko #eviction

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[dwlsrpl]

It is the squatters who should now be charged with the home invasion, not just trespassing. If they want to make a false report and send the guy to jail, they should be subject to the same punishment.

[Just_Peachy]

They need to stop allowing squaters rights.

[mqpar.]

Tenants and squatters literally have too many rights right now. I have family that used to be landlord and family friends who still are, they can literally get away with not paying rent as long as they pay a lump some. So they miss a month of say $1200, when taken to court they’ll literally pay $100 and they get to stay bc that is considered working on paying it off. Also all the hurdles to evict squatters, just send them to jail. Free housing and food there.

[alexisschiffer]

At least 2 people have OD on that property and the squatters are still there. What kind of system would allow this to happen?

[celina]

Why aren't states Governors passing a law like Governor Desantis did in Florida recently to STOP SQUATTERS & PROTECT HOMEOWNERS??

[oddy]

Squaters are the main reason why no home builders are building new homes anymore.

[rosemariemerzlak]

I wouldn't pay no fine if I got arrested for defending my home

[johnmoore]

Rent your home to some ROTC cadets and show the rental contract with a notary stamp to the police.

[dollarhugo]

Why rent when you can save money and squat. Stealing is now legal.

[melissakoger]

Noticed that you just don’t see this kind of thing happening in places like Alabama (or at least most areas of it with the exception of possibly Birmingham or Montgomery). 🤔

[walterarredondo]

It's a crime shame that this guy have to go through that! In Colombia S.A. all you have to do is hire a few guys from the office (gangsters) and in no time the squatters are out, dead or alive!!!

[thewolfking.]

This is how you get squatters out of your home Buy a giant bulldozer in bulldozer home That's simple

[themanwnoname]

2023(Gregorian) “Respect and dignity.” Furthermore:

[anthonyortiz]

If there’s people squatting in ur supposed house means ur either on business trip, or got more than 1 house because for people to just stay there all that time n make themselves at home n u wanna go to the news n ok it’s supposedly urs but it’s really not even if u paid it off, so stop doing this to people that need a place

[ramblingrootscamp]

The landlord has shifty eyes, puts off serious scammer vibes. I wouldnt trust him with a penny.