Chicago Family Faces Eviction After Questionable House Raid

In Chicago's quiet Lincoln Park district, what could have prompted police to order a pre-dawn, 40-officer house raid that included two SWAT teams?

For the Harris family, whose lives have come unhinged since that early August morning, the reasons still aren't clear -- but the mess left in its wake could cost them their home, reports The Chicago Tribune.

After police blasted the Lincoln Park home with smoke bombs and accosted the family with rifles pointed, the elaborate raid resulted in only a few misdemeanor charges -- none of which were related to neighbors' initial complaints of gang- and drug-related activity.

The only chargeable offenses police could bring against the Harrises were claims of animal mistreatment -- among them, cuts and abrasions found on one of the family dogs, which, the family maintains, only occurred during the raid. (See the police press release on the raid here.)

And yet, as a result of a subsequent police-ordered home inspection which found several housing code violations, the Harrises now faces eviction on the house that they purchased more than 40 years ago -- all because of neighbors' largely unfounded claims.

"It's not the dogs," Mrs. Harris told The Chicago Tribune. "It's not us. They just want the property."

When Good Fences Don't Make Good Neighbors

In rapidly gentrifying neighborhoods in and around Chicago, it's not uncommon for the specter of race or class discrimination to rear its head. But as community disputes go, "the government doesn't want to get involved in he said/she said situations," says John O'Brien, chairman of the Illinois Real Estate Lawyers Association.

In cases where there are irreconcilable differences between neighbors, litigation might not solve anything, he says. "The ultimate answer is: One of these people is going to have to move, if at the end of the day it's a personal dispute."

But as far as eviction goes, "property rights have always been the bedrock of the law," O'Brien says. "They're not to be taken away capriciously."

Typically, neighbors have limited legal recourse in such disputes, unless they can prove that a public nuisance exists. But that doesn't stop some neighbors from filing complaints simply to get the authorities involved, says one Chicago lawyer uninvolved in the Harris case. From there, once a police-appointed home inspector is given access to the home, it's hard to dispute their findings.

While R.J. Harris, the 77-year-old family patriarch, admits that the home (pictured above) has fallen into disrepair, he says that he has never before been issued a building code violation. Now he faces dozens, including wiring issues, clogged gutters and unsanitary living conditions.

The Harrises have been given nine months to bring the home to code, but they say that they don't have the money to do it. They could seek a continuance on the court order, the lawyer says, but that would only serve to delay the eviction, unless they could pay to make all the required repairs.

The Right Way to Approach Neighbors

Unfortunately, neighbor disputes are an all too common aspect of homeownership, especially in cases where a neighbor's behavior can affect property value. While the motives of the Harris family's neighbors remain unclear, the best way to resolve property disputes is through direct communication, says Walter Malony, a spokesman for the National Association of Realtors.

"It's best to approach the situation with a "conciliatory tone, maybe even offering to help resolve the problem," he says.

The Harrises maintain that they were never approached directly by their neighbors with any particular grievances.

Also see:
Home Sellers Step In Where Banks Fear to Tread
A Fine Line: Is Religious Real Estate Kosher?

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Reader Comments (20)

by Richard - October 5th 2011 @ 7:09AM

The problem is not angry or "gentrified" neighbors, it's the out-of-control police who kick in doors with rifles and SWAT teams to terrorize law abiding citizens when someone files an uncorroborated complaint that contains the word "drugs" or "gangs". It's called a "no knock warrant, and judges grant the routinely, Under our constitution and long-accepted laws, the police are not allowed to do that, but it has become commonplace.
We are becoming a third-world country where people are no longer safe in their own homes from police and government intervention.

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by Dennis - October 5th 2011 @ 1:50PM

Their were three warrents given to animal control after surveilance. When the family dog disapears it these type of people that take them to teach their pits how to kill If you ever broke in to a vacant apt to find ten dead dogs You would'nt be so slow to judge.And the neighbor hood gentrified back 15 years ago Dennis

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by cjygudwin - October 5th 2011 @ 1:57PM

Unbalanced article.
No interview of any neighbor.
You assume there was no drug-and-gang activity from the grandsons, which there was and still is.
If your family members are dealing drugs on your property, you don't have a right to privacy. Zero sympathy here. I see tons of phoney victimhood in the hood and zero personal responsibility when there are problems.

by Rick - October 5th 2011 @ 6:24PM

This should be front page news...
WHAT THE F' IS wrong with you AOL????

You put the raise of women on a Rediculous TV show over these people getting "Terrorized"?

I know your not 60 Minutes...AOL has clearly gotten "OWNED" by Hollywood B.S.

Am I the only one that sees this is the way our Government acts when they want something...(or at least turns the other cheek because some mogal wants this property).

This couple's getting screwed and you could have done more than just reported it....How about growing some Balls and give an opinion once in a while?...Don't cave to the errosion of America...you can do good things here....AT LEAST TRY!!

by Rickab - October 5th 2011 @ 7:24AM

Seeing how the police have so much time on their hands, maybe the city could send them over to fix the house. I love inspectors, they just so full of themselves. How about some volunteers to help put their home back in shape, he's 77 years old. Rickab

by No7 - October 5th 2011 @ 2:16PM

When the thugs bust it up, they should fix it up...Probably had some reality cop show camera on them so they had to ham it up and play the role...I'd be willing to bet they all had their heads shaved and pants tucked in their boots..wanna bet?

by Hugo - October 5th 2011 @ 7:32AM

The FBI should look at this case.

by ciara500 - October 5th 2011 @ 7:44AM

I was reading some reports of this raid. Seems to be some trumped up charges against these people by some of the neighbors claims or unfounded claims. How convenient that it turned out to be more. The dogs were taken and then a house inspector was there.A meeting was held and not one of the complaining neighbors said a word.Not one word!! I dare say that not one of these so called neighbors approached the elder couple and offered to help to fix up the house.They should be ashamed of their actions.

by Nancy Akers - October 5th 2011 @ 8:49AM

Is not the world full of hate now? Why did not the neighbors go to their house and help put it back together again. These are old folks who could use some help. The "neighborley" thing to do is help thy neighbor. Oh yeah they did, they sicked the police on them.
Good God folks how do you sleep at night while trying to figure out your next move to throw some one out of their house for you finiancal gain.

by vmark - October 5th 2011 @ 8:23AM

who gave the police the power to appoint home inspectors?
this is just more goverment control of your life and its pure bull sh*t.
chicago, a obum-a kind of town, how's that hope and change workin out for ya?

by CColeminer - October 5th 2011 @ 3:14PM

Wow! How you can take the horrible plight of this family and turn it into a political statement against the President...shame on you is all I can say. Why don't you better use your time and anger and try to make things better for a similar family in your own community. I guess your comment only makes me realize even more that we all need to step up and offer a hand to our neighbors. We need to stop wasteing time pointing fingers and blaming everyone else for what we have all let happen! Hope and Change is what we each bring to a situation and from your written attitude I can see you don't have much of either, and for that I am sorry for you!

by Donovan - October 5th 2011 @ 8:29AM

Perhaps code enforcement should visit and conduct inspections of other homeowners properties near the Harris home. No doubt the homes in the area were built around the same time, and most likely need electrical and plumbing updating to meet current county code standards.

And why would neighbors want to target the Harris's in the first place. Have the Harri's neighbors nothing better to do then think of ways to make life uncomfortable for this elderly couple.

It seems to me if the Harris's had money, they most likely would have chosen moved out of the neighborhood a long time ago. It seems to me the neighbors should focus more on helping their neighbor the Harris's as opposed to harassing them. No individual is immune to falling on hard times financially.

by Doug - October 5th 2011 @ 8:28AM

It's a sad statement on our country when this is allowed to happen. First where is the police surveillance prior to the raid to justify the claims made? Secondly, after being embarrassed the police should have just walked away, but no, they had to justify the man power. So the trumped up the charge of the animal mistreatment. Then called in the home inspectors to finish off what they had started. Destroying these peoples life's, knowing that they were elderly and if what the police hadn't destroyed the inspector was sure to find other things to condemn the property. Sounds to me like some of the neighbors may have a friend on the police force or in politics.
I hope someone in the area comes forward and helps these people. By the way I am a very conservative, white male. Wrong is wrong and people should not be treated like this. The only reason I brought this up was everything these days is always political and about race. That needs to change!!!

by pickapie - October 5th 2011 @ 6:16PM

Last week I read an article involving a white lady in the western suburbs who was in fear of losing a home she owned for over 20 years because of finacinal hardship. Most people responding to the article immediately were offering their finacial support and encouraging others to do the same. They were researching and validating the situation to bring legitimacy to the article so that ppl would respond with finacial help asap! In this article, many have expressed their outrage at the situation and went as far as to claim that the neighborly thing to do would be to assist this elderly African American couple in fixing up their property but I have not seen one post in which we as a community have offered our individual help or encouraged others to do the same. I hate to admit every now and again that our nation still has a long way to go when it comes to race relations. As much as we try to run away from the situation many are undercover racists who are unwilling and/or unable to change their ways; evidenced by reaching out to "anyone" without regard to color, to offer their sincere help and assistance whenever and wherever there is a need. Come on people...let's elevate.

by glenn - October 6th 2011 @ 4:31PM

forget me-----------i don't see how a police dept can order a raid without extensive investigating - i would go on the premiss that the police acted outside the boundries of the law and i would be talkin to a lawyer about (only) a lawsuit , maybe suing the police will get these people enough money to fix up thier home - as for disputes withn the nieghnbors , well if the issue is the condition of the property and no one ever approaches the peple about those issues , hows anyone to know theres a problem in the first place and second , wouldn't it be better to organize a community outreach program - i mean heres the alternative , help them or evict them , and force them to live on the streets - no takes to the thought of what its like to be homeless - something that many of us are teeetering on the brink of daily - many , many of us are just one paycheck from that reality

by sid - October 5th 2011 @ 8:51AM

thank GOD, for the police!!!

by Rocky - October 5th 2011 @ 9:31AM

It's the same all over. In Lansing, Michigan, to raise money, the city hired a "team" of inspectors that has only ONE JOB; raise money for the city by driving around and "finding" code violations, from too tall grass to one trash bag sitting out at a non trash day time. The first letter is a warning, the second warning (in a year) results in an automatic fine plus the City will mow the grass or haul one trash bag for $360 or more. Imagine a team of Gestapo just lurking around for the most minor "violation" just to raise money for the city.....A proud job to have.

by Jimbo - October 5th 2011 @ 12:08PM

Well if they thought for a minute that they were going to touch my property without being forced back off of it then they would have another thing coming.
Mandatory fine for something that isn't proven or appealed. I think they need a civics lesson. The goal is code compliance, not having the citizens ready to pounce on the inspectors and code enforcement officers. Hope those inspectors are perfect. Otherwise it will be them paying the fines and having the work done for them at their expense.
My house is protected by Smith and Wesson. There aren't too many code enforcement officers that even want to debate the issue with the two of them, much less try to have someone do something about it.

by Brian - October 5th 2011 @ 8:09PM

Like parts of Southern California...

by John Dumas - October 5th 2011 @ 9:42AM

Trumped up charges and "inspectors" being used.

If this was 20 years ago, you would have guessed this happened in a corrupt foreign country.

What do you guess now?????

20 Comments / 1 Pages