Posted on 07/10/2012 9:04:18 AM PDT by DogByte6RER
Code Enforcement Officer Walks Into Home
Monday morning, Erica Masters was sleeping in her bed when Columbia County Code Compliance Officer Jimmy Vowell came to serve a violation notice for her grass being too long. Erica caught the whole incident on tape.
"He let himself in and actually came through the house and into my bedroom. And yelled at me to wake me up, to let me know that I needed to come back outside and sign the violation notice."
Erica says she was freaked out seeing a stranger in her doorway.
"I woke up, I didn't have my glasses on or my contacts in and all I see is this big burly figure standing in my doorway. A big huge guy with a grey shirt. It scared the mess out of me."
After the incident, Erica called the Sheriff's Office to file a complaint against Jimmy Vowell. The Columbia County Environmental Compliance Manager, Mike Anderson, says he is aware of the complaint and that his office is investigating it. He also went on to say that his Code Compliance Officers cannot enter someone's home without their permission, and that even if they had probable cause to enter, they would still need to be escorted by a Law Enforcement Officer. Erica feels as though her privacy was invaded by the county.
"I could have been coming fresh out of the shower. I mean, if I'm not answering the door, maybe it's because I can't hear you because I'm in the shower."
She also worries about the safety of the man who served the violation.
"He didn't even have a concern for his own safety, walking into someone's house, and just trying to get their attention when they could very well be an armed and dangerous person."
Erica says she isn't sure if she's going to press charges against Jimmy Vowell. For now, she's going to work on getting her lawnmower fixed.
"I do understand that my yard needs to be cut. I understand that. I have no problem with that. I understand them having to serve a violation notice, but the way they handled it was completely unacceptable."
/johnny
I believe there’s a cure for trespass, and, it’s call an auto shot gun — 5 in the tube and 1 in the chamber. Heck, even I can miss inside a house!
He’d have been one dead compliance officer in Michigan.
If he wasn’t dead, he’d be needin some new shorts.
He would have been one dead MF if he did that in my house..................
No you wouldn’t be in jail, but you would have to have a long talk with the cops...................
I’m disappointed that he at least didn’t suffer a flesh wound...
"He worked for a time in the meat department of Leekers IGA "
“Family” can walk in... but even they make noise because they KNOW better. I like this guy, and he’s a good neighbor, but he’s not “family”. :-)
K.I.S.S. at its best.
What possible probable cause could an "Environmental Code Enforcement Officer" present to a judge?
And then we are going to get law enforcement involved?
Really?
I thought we needed more police on the street.
Bingo, yes Dennis Rader (BTK) was a compliance officer. He was also my first thought when reading this article.
Shoot first, ask questions later.
Columbia County fired him yesterday afternoon...
Definitely press charges.
File a lawsuit against the city,this code “officer”,and his supervisor.
Any non-government person would have been arrested.
The concept of private property is being eroded.
No you wouldn’t be in jail, but you would have to have a long talk with the cops...................
might wana check with Gorge Zimmerman on that..
The value of a home defence pistol/shotgun. I’d have shot the son of a bitch, then gone to the kitchen and put a butcher knife in his cold dead hand.
” File a lawsuit...”
At least get enough to hire a lawn guy/gal.
(you like my PC’ness?)
Code enforcement “officers” are even lower on the evolutionary scale than parking enforcers.
I'd take "Get up! Run for your life!! The volcano is erupting!!" .... or similar variants ....as acceptable excuses.
"Get up and mow your lawn!". Nope. Doesn't qualify for the "WBill Panic Button".
Not if I were on the jury....I’d say it was panicked, uncontrollable sustained fire.
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