Local

Landlord frustrated legal system can't do more with squatter

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A Charlotte landlord is frustrated because he said a squatter moved into his house in west Charlotte and refused to get out.

He said it's a big problem and it's becoming more difficult to get help from law enforcement.

Mark Walters said he had a hard time getting help from police and the magistrate's office.

He believes the delay could have put him and innocent people in danger.

He said the female squatter moved right back in.

"We called the police,” Walters said. “The police said, ‘There's nothing we can do.’"

Police said they generally view these cases as civil matters.

Authorities said they can't remove people out because it is a civil issue between the owner and tenant.

Police sent Walters to the magistrate’s office to get a criminal warrant for trespassing but they would only give him a criminal summons.

A warrant would allow the suspect to be arrested.

A summons for is like getting a ticket letting the suspect know they must appear in court.

"I continue to tell (the) magistrate, ‘I don't need a criminal summons. The woman has broken into my home. We want her out. We need a warrant for her arrest,’” Walters said.

Officials didn’t say why they didn’t issue an arrest warrant in this case.

Walters said the squatter eventually left and he moved a woman and her young children into the house.

Someone shot the house up the next day.

The landlord believes the squatter had something to do with that shooting and all of it could have been prevented. Police said there was no evidence that was connected to the squatter. Authorities are still investigating the case.