OAP Physically Dragged From Home After Missing Rent Payments

Is there any point to sending an OAP to jail, particularly if they haven't committed a violent crime? Cops in Florida certainly thought so as they removed an old lady from her home after she 'fell behind on rent'.

CHECK OUT JUANITA'S SHOCKING EVICTION BELOW

Credit: Lake County Sheriff's Office

Juanita Fitzgerald, 93, was forcibly dragged out of her home and off to jail in Eustis, Florida this past Tuesday after missing rent payments.

The shocking moment was captured on bodycam footage from one of the officers, with one officer recorded telling the pensioner: "We don't want to hurt you".

The cops are recorded telling Fitzgerald to relax, insisting they're not putting pressure on her at all despite her clearly being uncomfortable with the situation.

The old woman is heard to shout "You're hurting me!" and "Help!" and even sounds like she's crying as she is bundled into a police car for resisting eviction.

Credit: Lake County Sheriff's Office

According to Live Leak, Fitzgerald was taken to jail just a few days before her 94th birthday for refusing to leave the residence.

The OAP had been living at the retirement community Franklin House for eight years before she reportedly fell behind on rent payments.

Fitzgerald had apparently told police that she would not be going anywhere unless they physically carried her out - and so they did.

"Unless you carry me out of here, I'm not going anywhere," she reportedly told officers.

Reports have said that police apparently tried to avoid arresting her by offering her agency help and trying to put her in touch with family members. However, Fitzgerald reportedly refused to co-operate with the police and for that reason was arrested for trespassing on the property.

oap

Credit: Lake County Sheriff's Office

A spokesperson for Franklin House, where she had been staying, told local newspaper the Orlando Sentinel they'd spent months working with Fitzgerald and presented her with safe housing options.

She was eventually released from the Lake County jail by a judge and handed to a caregiver on Thursday, after two days locked up in a medical ward.

Fitzergerald now faces misdemeanour charges of trespassing after receiving a warning.

Topics: News, Florida, US News, rent, Pensioner, Homelessness

Chris Ogden

Chris Ogden is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from the University of East Anglia with degrees in English Literature and Creative Writing before completing his NCTJ Diploma in Multimedia Journalism. Chris has previously written for the independent culture magazine The Skinny, among other publications.

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