A homeowner in San Antonio, Texas, criticized police after getting into a fight with a squatter living on his property.
On Thursday, Abram Mendez and his wife, Yudith, appeared on Fox News' Fox & Friends to speak about a squatter living in their home and how police responded to the incident.
"We called the police and we didn't get any help from them," Yudith said. "Instead, the police told him that he has the right to stay on the property and the police considered him as a resident."
Abram explained that after receiving minimal help from police, they went to the local constable's office where they learned they had "the right to tell to the police that this is trespassing matter."
"We explained the law, the letter and how to enforce it and yet, the police did not want to do anything," Abram said.
The Context
Over the past several weeks, there have been numerous incidents involving squatters and homeowners' attempts to have them removed from property.
The American Apartment Owners Association defines a squatter as an individual who inhabits a piece of land or property despite having no legal authority to do so. A squatter lives in a building or on the property without paying rent and without lawful documentation stating they own the property.
What We Know
According to Fox & Friends co-host Ainsley Earhardt, the squatter was previously hired by the couple to work on the home and they entered into an agreement with the man to allow him to stay there for a few days. However, the man continued to live in the house even after their contracted agreement ended.
During their appearance on Fox & Friends, the couple also said that there was an altercation while trying to remove the squatter from the home. Abram explained that a video captured the incident and showed him running to get between the squatter and his wife as the couple was trying to remove him.
"The police instead said it looked the opposite," Abram said, and his wife added that police said that she was the one who got in the way during the altercation.
Newsweek reached out to the San Antonio Police Department via its website for comment.
Views
According to news channel KEYE in Austin, Texas, a police report filed on the case stated that: "The other party allowed the subject to stay at the house for a few dates to work on the bathroom. The owners allowed the subject to stay to 'finish the job faster.'
"The officer spoke to the subject through the phone, who says he has been staying [there] for a month and confirmed he was allowed to be there because of work he was doing on the home. He denied having the other party's phone. The officer explained protection SB1 has under the Texas Residency law, which allow the eviction process to take place."
Texas Governor Greg Abbott previously issued a strong warning to squatters in the state saying: "In Texas, anyone 'squatting' in your home is breaking the law. They are criminals violating TX laws like criminal trespass & criminal mischief (Tex. Penal Code 30.05 & 28.03)."
"Also, the Texas Castle Doctrine empowers Texans to use force to defend themselves & their property," Abbott added in a post to X, formerly Twitter.
What's next
While speaking with KEYE, the couple said that they are working to have the man evicted but expressed concerns about how long it still could take.
"We're saddled with court costs...those things are costing us, plus materials and labor we'll need later," Abram told the local outlet.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Matthew Impelli is a Newsweek staff writer based in New York. His focus is reporting social issues and crime. In ... Read more
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