Society

Video: Code Compliance Officer Enters Erica Masters' Home While She Sleeps, Over Long Grass

By Michael Allen, Tue, July 10, 2012

In Martinez, Georgia, on Monday morning, Erica Masters was sleeping in her bed when Columbia County Code Compliance Officer Jimmy Vowell came to serve her a violation notice for her grass being too long.

Masters caught the whole incident on video (below).

Masters told WJBF-TV: "He let himself in and actually came through the house and into my bedroom. And yelled at me to wake me up, to let me know that I needed to come back outside and sign the violation notice."

"I woke up, I didn't have my glasses on or my contacts in and all I see is this big burly figure standing in my doorway. A big huge guy with a grey shirt. It scared the mess out of me."

After the incident, Erica called the Sheriff's Office to file a complaint against Vowell.

The Columbia County Environmental Compliance Manager, Mike Anderson, said that his office is investigating it. He said that his Code Compliance Officers cannot enter someone's home without permission. If they have probable cause, they would have to be escorted by a police officer.

Masters added: "I do understand that my yard needs to be cut. I understand that. I have no problem with that. I understand them having to serve a violation notice, but the way they handled it was completely unacceptable."

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Comments

From the video, it looks as

James Smith (not verified) - Jul 11 2012 - 7:52am

From the video, it looks as though this "enforcement" officer is in violation of the "fat slob" code.

In the video, the woman did not appear unreasonable and admitted she needed to get her grass cut and understood the violation notice.

I do wonder why she feels the need to video everything from her front door into her home. Especially considering the front door was unlocked. There seems to be something moofy-foofky here.

The Columbia County

Fn Oh - Jul 11 2012 - 1:03am

The Columbia County Environmental Compliance Manager, Mike Anderson, said that his office is investigating it. He said that his Code Compliance Officers cannot enter someone's home without permission..... Would mikey like to see the video... I'd press charges in a heart beat... That's breaking and entering and/or burglary....

While on face value, this is

Foot0108 - Jul 10 2012 - 2:04pm

While on face value, this is a pretty scary 'Orwellian' episode. I just wonder how much of it true. I guess she said she had a video, I'll go back and watch it. I find it hard to beleive that a compliance officer would be so stupid as to illegally enter a home.

First, this guy takes his job

baseman - Jul 10 2012 - 12:56pm

First, this guy takes his job way too seriously. He should have known that he is risking being considered as a criminal entering uninvited with possible consequences. But I'm guessing that he has dealt with her before and had many previous complaints about her property...these officers usually respond to complaints. Could be that his previous contacts were by mail or a note on the door and she just blew them off and he was a little too annoyed about it.

He should be suspended while investigating all the factors that we don't know about and maybe fired.

He's lucky he wasn't shot.

Andrew Z Hanson - Jul 10 2012 - 11:35am

He's lucky he wasn't shot. He should be arrested.

You all don't seem to mind

Animals Don't Have Rights - Jul 10 2012 - 11:30am

You all don't seem to mind when it's an "animal rights" zealot pushing their way into a breeders home or seizing purebred pets that they then sell for several hundred dollars. Take notice of how they always exempt themselves from the regulations they insist breeders follow. That should tell you something. The shelter dog is the latest cash cow to sweep the country. Don't be taken in by those sad commercials. This is how it all starts. Once you give up the principle - in this case, saying there's ever a reason to disregard the Fourth Amendment - you have allowed them to use it for whatever they want. Expect to see a lot more of this.

Barring a huge fire or the like there is never a reason to step foot on another person's property without a proper warrant and even then you better be able to prove allegations and ensure the accused the right to due process.

And your post has what to do

canislupus - Jul 10 2012 - 12:05pm

And your post has what to do with the story?

Guess you have a soapbox and will drag it out wherever and whenever you like. What a pathetic handle you have chosen for yourself, if that is your biggest focus in life and that is how you identify.

What is it you have against animals anyway? You sound like you have some deep seated emotional problems, and probably little of that actually has anything to do with animnals. Perhaps you were abused as a child. Perhaps your parents didn't love you enough, or loved another sibling more. Perhaps you didn't have parents. Perhaps you as a human you feel you are at the figurative bottom of the food chain so you take your (self-)hatred out on anything you think you can dominate. I hope you don't have kids or elderly parents. Whatever your circumstance, I feel sorry for you. I'm not being sarcastic when I suggest you should talk to someone, a therapist, minister, or some trusted soul in your life.

On re-read of your rant, you make several unsupported statements - animal rights advocates (zealots as you put it) pushing their way into one place or another, and essentially stealing animals only to sell them. What drivel, and unsubstantiated. What do you have to support those claims?

The only relevant part of your post is your mention of the Fourth Amendment, but it has nothing to do with your rant. The code guy should get his ass nailed to the cross for trampling all over, not only the Fourth, but the Fourteenth Amendment as well.

Actually, being big in animal

Raptorcat - Jul 10 2012 - 11:51am

Actually, being big in animal WELFARE issues, I have massive problems if it were an animal rights terrorist breaking in to anyplace without lawful authorization and assistance from law enforcement.

BUT THAT IS NOT THE ISSUE HERE.

What the code enforcement "officer" did was illegal and he should be arrested and prosecuted.

What he did is, under the law, breaking and entering.

It sounds as if he's a small man with a little power and thinks that power gives him big power.

The insanity principle is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results. The far right, the far left, vegans, creationists and other extremists believe in the insanity principle, religiously.

You are a sick twisted human.

CS - Jul 10 2012 - 11:47am

You are a sick twisted human. You are the reason why we need those commercials. Animals suffer every bit as much as people. Too bad you are too self worshipping to ever see that. Oh, and it is not that easy to remove abused and neglected animals for their tormentors. More often than not they are left to suffer and die. Though I am sure that fills you with great pleasure. You are probably one of those abusers. The only way you can feel like a real man is to make some poor innocent creature writhe in pain.

Animals absolutely have rights. And yes, preventing or stopping suffering is a reason to disregard the Fourth Amendment and other for that matter. You say barring a huge fire or the like is a reason to step foot on another person's property without a warrant. Well, an animal without food, water, shelter, medical care or worse most definitely falls into the category of the "like". Contrary to your Biblical teachings this world, this Universe was not created for man and man alone. Get over yourself, humans are not the center of the Universe or even this Solar System.