An Army officer has told how a man with a long criminal history huddles in her home near Atlanta while she is on active duty in Chicago.
Lt. Col. Dahlia Daure told local media Vincent Simon – a man convicted of gun, drug and theft offenses – lives in her $500,000 home.
Daure said she left her Ellenwood, Georgia home to serve her country in the Windy City — and only found out he’d moved in just as the house was being sold.
“I felt hurt.” If I hadn’t served my country, I would have been at home,” Daure said WSB TV.
The active army officer was told by the police that they could not evacuate Simon and that the matter was a “civil matter”.
“I want to shoot out the windows, turn off the water, cut the wires, but I can’t.” It’s a crime. “That’s something law-abiding citizens can’t do,” she said.
Lt. Col. Dahlia Daure says a man with a long criminal history occupied her Atlanta-area home while she was on active duty and he is refusing to move out
Daure told local media the man lives at her home in Dekalb County, Georgia, which is estimated to be worth $500,000
Daure says the man at her home is Vincent Simon, a Georgia resident who has been convicted on gun, drug and theft charges
According to Daure, she only became aware of the situation while her real estate agent was finalizing the sale of her home in Holly Hill Parkway.
The massive 4,300-square-foot mansion that Simon is hiding in has five beds and five baths, according to Zillow, and is valued at around $495,000.
Before listing the home, she had rented it out and even spent an estimated $35,000 on renovations.
After Simon received a cash offer and was under contract, he reportedly moved in. Daure said she once saw him bring giant safes into the house.
The active-duty officer says Simon claimed he had a lease on the home and paid $19,000 for six months.
“The police called the number that’s on the lease, it doesn’t exist,” Daure said.
When WBS-TV visited the home on Holly Hill Parkway over the weekend, they found “Beware of Dogs” signs affixed to some windows as cardboard.
Daure has since served Simon the eviction papers, but he has the legal right to respond and have his case heard by a judge. “He’s not a renter.” “He’s a squatter,” she said.
“I felt hurt.” “If I hadn’t been serving my country, I would have been home,” Daure said
The massive 4,300-square-foot mansion that Simon is hiding in has five beds and five baths, according to Zillow, and is valued at around $495,000
“I can’t ask her to leave.” I can’t erase her. The police cannot delete them. What justice is this?’ said Dure
The military officer now says she feels her case is stuck as she waits for the eviction process to be completed.
“I can’t ask her to leave.” I can’t erase her. The police cannot delete them. What justice is this?’ said Dure.
The woman said the sale of the house also appeared to have fallen through.
WSB-TV reported that DeKalb County Police and an official private trial server served Simon with the eviction papers.
Simon can respond in court and request a hearing before a judge.
If his request is granted, the eviction process could take weeks or months.
