(FixThisNation.com) – Escambia County, Florida has seen an increase in the number of squatting incidents with homeless people camping on private properties without facing much repercussion.
One of the communities of residents Gwen Gibson noted that there were many people coming and going. She added that she has talked with law enforcement and the sheriff’s department as there are 15 to 20 people who are constantly moving through her property to reach their camp. She further alleged that the people were moving to buy prostitution and drugs.
Gibson lives next to a land owned by the Merrill family which has been used for years for homeless encampments. In April the Escambia County magistrate ordered that the family needed to clean up their property of all trash and tents, however, the order was delayed until August which was when Collier Merrill, a local businessman, started removing some of the trash from the property and forcing campers to leave the property.
Merrill has reportedly stated that he would be removing the squatters by any means necessary. He has also posted the property several signs against trespassing and has installed security cameras across the property. However, he has not yet called the sheriff’s office against the trespassers.
Merrill has stated that they had been focused on a different project and had been hoping that the squatters would move however they had not done so. He added that they would now make it a priority to ensure that they are complying with the county.
However, Gibson has argued that since August the problem has continued to worsen.
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