Poor overworked po-pos discourage 911 calls with eviction threats.
Victims’ Dilemma: 911 Calls Can Bring Eviction
In June 2012, days after her ex-boyfriend, Wilbert Bennett, moved into her house in this struggling town northwest of Philadelphia, he started another drunken, late-night argument. Then came his most violent attack yet: an assault with a broken ashtray that left a gash on her head and a four-inch stab wound in her neck.
Before she passed out, Ms. Briggs begged her neighbor not to call 911 because of the eviction threat, according to the suit, which is being argued by the American Civil Liberties Union.
The neighbor called anyway. Ms. Briggs was taken by helicopter to Philadelphia for emergency treatment. Mr. Bennett is now serving a sentence of one to two years for aggravated assault.
And Norristown officials instructed her landlord to evict her within 10 days or lose his rental license.
4 comments:
I don't know whether I'm more disturbed by the fact they have a law requiring eviction (note that it is directed at the "deeper" pockets-the landlord) for multiple 911 calls or that the landlord is required to have permission to rent out his property. Get out of the cities!
Just one more example of why you NEVER trust government. They are willing to pour ladle fulls of government gravy until you do something they don't like or they simply decide to pull back on gravy for some other reason.
When that happens most people who were dependent on them no longer even possess (if they ever had them to start) skills to take care of themselves.
Sadly people like this aren't much better than domesticated animals who when they displease their master and get thrown into the jungle have no chance to survive on their own.
She should sue the neighbor. Anyone who calls 911 is nuts.
"There is no human situation so miserable that it cannot be made worse by the presence of a policeman."
--Brendan Behan
But, just for sake of argument, let me offer a contrarian view: The neighbors would like a peaceful and non-violent atmosphere. What we in the industry call, "a right to quiet enjoyment."
Now, while being a victim sucks, let's answer the question of just who, in this sad little tale, invited the sociopath into the apartment? He's not on the lease, presumably, so has no RIGHT to be there. I understand that "blaming the victim" is out of fashion these days, but, really, if you decide to engage in activities that start the ball rolling, you really don't have a lot of room to complain when it comes back down the slope and hits you in the privates.....
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