An Athens woman is unhappy with Mayor Kelly Girtz and an Athens-Clarke County Commission policy she says prevented Athens-Clarke County Police from arresting a woman who came onto her property while she and her husband were away. Danielle Benson says it happened last weekend. She tells her story in an interview with WGAU, and Mayor Kelly Girtz responds, also in an on-air interview.
Both interviews can be heard here… https://bit.ly/32h3dCF
From Danielle Benson’s Facebook page…
I am livid that I have to post this!
We had a white middle-aged woman (pics attached) enter our back gate last night around 9pm. She then went down our driveway, retrieved a bag, entered our back yard again and swam in our pool. She then entered our sunroom (which is under construction and thankfully walled-off from our home). She tried to enter the other doors that were locked. She entered a storage closet, pulled out cushions and made a bed on our outdoor furniture. She spent the night on our back porch, watched tv, ate and drank, and made a home. She defecated on the patio, she attempted to break into locked doors and successfully broke into other doors. We are not home this weekend. I have no idea how she knew the house was unoccupied.
EDIT—— THE OFFICER DID HIS JOB AS INSTRUCTED BY OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS. IF YOU THINK TURNING A BLIND EYE TO THIS TYPE OF CRIME AND TO DRUG CAMPS IS WRONG THEN TELL OUR ACC GOVERNMENT! IF YOU THINK INSTRUCTING OFFICERS TO NOT ARREST PEOPLE IS WRONG, MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD!
When we accessed the cameras this morning we discovered all of this and called 911. The police talked to her and let her go. I asked that she be arrested so I am unsure why she wasn’t detained. I’ve been worried about the drug/homeless camp for some time and as it turns out my worry was for reason!
Athens friends - I urge you to reach out to our Mayor, our Commissioner, the City Manager, the Police Chief, and CSX and implore them to do something about this nuisance to our safety and our homes.
PLEASE lock all doors, turn on exterior lights. If you see something suspicious, CALL 911! The police would rather investigate nothing, that not be notified and have a crime committed.
I am so thankful our children weren’t home to witness this. I am also thankful we weren’t home to confront her as it could have been a very bad situation!
Stay safe and if you feel violated like my family does, please take action!!!!!!
LOCAL ELECTIONS MATTER!!!!!!!
Athens-Clarke County Police now say arrest warrants have been issued, and released the following statement:
"The ACCPD responded to a complaint of a homeless person trespassing onto private property. The homeowner was not present at the time of police arrival. The investigating officer did not have complete information on what may have occurred at the property other than simple trespassing. Generally speaking, when a person has only committed the offense of simple trespassing, the subject is warned to not re-enter the property and if subsequent violations occur, the person is subject to citation and/or arrest. In this case, absent further criminal information, the officer warned the female of criminal trespass and she was escorted from the property.
“The resident was able to provide the department with additional information regarding property damage that occurred when the female was on the property. With this new information, ACCPD officers have sought a criminal arrest warrant against the female. In addition, investigators have determined she trespassed onto additional properties in the area and additional charges are forthcoming.”