Posted on 03/31/2010 7:49:54 AM PDT by Celerity
I received a call this morning from my mother, in a frenzied panick.
The Police had raided her home.
Well, in all fairness: She lives in an apartment building in Waterbury CT. The building is new, and nice - but also located in the heart of a bad, bad neighborhood. Charles Bronson wouldn't rent in this neighborhood. The building is new, there is security on premises (At all hours) and the apartments are remarkably inexpensive (An important factor, if you catch my drift).
As an employed woman working through her late-late-late retirement age, she barely makes it week to week financially. She never misses a day of work - to do so is a marked sacrifice of some expense that week. She works in a small factory.
A few weeks ago some neighborhood thugs were fighting in the parking lot, and security scattered them - There was a stabbing, and a young male wound up crumpled against her door with multiple stab wounds. The stabbing occured near her car door - And a scuffle ensued until the early morning hours. The police came to collect the body, but after dispersing, the gang fighting was back on. Gang fighting, screaming, loud bangs and police sirens are not uncommon - and she closed her shades and turned the lights off for another night.
This morning's adventure began with a loud banging at her door. When she peered out the hole, she found local law enforcement standing there, demanding she open the door. Upon compliance, several uniformed officers pushed their way in, and ushered her out into the hallway in her pajamas. The entire building was being raided - Up and down the hallways were neighbors being rousted, kept out of their homes, children crying and screaming. Explaining to my mother (A woman in her 60s) that her house was being searched for drugs. She was kept outside of her apartment until she had to beg to be let back in to get ready and go to work.
On her way to work, they were still raiding the building, her apartment still open. (The security there, who know her well, promised to lock up afterwards)
As far as I know, no warrant was presented (Not to her, anyway) but I do know that in many places a landlord can do this - With the search warrant being presented to him instead of rental tenants. I also know that a landlord or management company has rights to randomly inspect the insides of a renter's home at will.
I expect no feedback from this vanity post. It's just something I would like to put out there for your consideration.
Thank you, fine folks of Free Republic !
As a renter, your rights are altered. Be aware. I now own my home, and certain steps must be taken to "raid" my property. I wouldn't be surprised to see that these procedures and laws had loop-holes built in to circumvent those procedures and laws.
The ultimate point of my post : Start focusing on a caching program, and keep a very low profile for the next little while. It can happen to me, it can happen to you - It can happen to your mother. And it can happen in America.
(Last note: This is something that used to take place BEFORE the previous few administrations too.. This isn't intended as an extremist rant or call to arms. Just a reminder)
It the neighborhood is that bad, how about you help her get into a safer home?
clearly government subsidezed rent (we are paying the rent)
I have to second this comment. Celerity I am not a busy body, but how can you let your mom remain in an unsafe situation?
I’m afraid you’re right. I think I’d not let that happen to my own mother.
Your rights as a renter to the security of your domicile should remain intact. A landlord cannot waive your 4th Amendment rights.
If the landlord has a right of inspection, and sees evidence of illegal activity, then he can report this to LE. The police still have to get a search warrant before conducting a search, or else prove that there were exigent circumstances (there are legally recognized exceptions to the search warrant requirement).
A blanket tossing of a building such as you have described is almost certainly unconstitutional. Any evidence found would likely be ruled inadmissable. Furthermore, once the police have detained you, or removed you from your domicile, they have effected a seizure, and possibly created a section 1983 violation of your civil rights.
My mom was hospitalized recently, and we worried she wouldn't make it. FReeper prayer warriors lifted her up to God. Thankfully, she is doing much better now.
But if things didn't turn out well, my husband and I were fully prepared to open our home to both of them, give them our bedroom and sleep on the livingroom couch for however long it took to sell our home and find a comfortable place for us all, because that's what families do!
WE TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN.
You might think folks are going to be upset because your Mom's dealing with some unpleasant stuff by the authorities. I have a feeling more folks are going to be upset that you are allowing your mom to live in a crime-ridden neighborhood.
Absolutely.
Is there any way you can get her to leave that area? I don’t think I’d even want to visit, much less live there ...
I would like to address a few of the comments that have come my way.
My mother lived with me for 6 years, until last year. In an attempt to live a life free of burden, she chose to move a few towns away. I inspected the building, and met her neighbors. I know her security team and I speak to them frequently.
It’s this or a nursing / group home. I want her to be independent. She has worked at nursing homes, and would rather die than wind up there.
It won’t get that bad. She is of course welcome in my home. She’s also been in my home for the better part of this past decade. Everyone has a struggle that they endure, please don’t judge me upon mine.
Also, “Celerity” = With swiftness. It’s not a mispelling of “Celebrity”.
Thank you for your input ! I will be cooking her a meal tonight, and talking with her about the arrangment to make something better happen.
Unless it is government owned housing & the tenants signed an agreement to waive certain of their rights.
Some instances in which a third party can give "valid consent" include spouses that occupy and have equal rights to the premises, and parents in whose home children are living and do not pay rent or live separately (Harr, Hess, 2006). Instances in which consent of a third party is considered invalid include landlords giving permission to search the property of tenants, parents giving permission to search the property of children who pay rent and have exclusive rights to any given area of the property (Harr, Hess, 2006. pp. 220-221).
"Little Old Lady got mutilated late last night
Werewolves of London again."
ping. I want to watch this one.
Bump.
A 60 year old woman who holds down a job is perfectly capable of choosing her own neighborhood. Stop assuming she’s been forcefully ‘stashed’ in some god-forsaken rat hole by her heartless, uncaring offspring.
Good grief.
SargeK is right. Your Mom needs to get a lawyer right away and see if she can’t press charges as well as start a civil suit.
“Stop assuming she’s been forcefully ‘stashed’ in some god-forsaken rat hole by her heartless, uncaring offspring.”
WOW, where’d you get that? Nobody has said anything like that.
If you mom is in that bad of a neighborhood, have her move in with you.
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