Squatter standoff captured on camera in Queens

Eyewitness News ABC7NY

18 Mar 202404:40

Summary

TLDRThe script details a dramatic standoff between a property owner, Adele Andaloro, and alleged squatters in her Queens home. Adele claims that squatters moved in and refused to leave, leading to a series of events including multiple 911 calls, arrests, and confrontations. The situation escalates when Adele changes the locks, resulting in her own arrest for unlawful eviction. The complexity of the issue is highlighted by the need for legal resolution through housing court rather than police intervention.

Takeaways

🏠 A property owner in Queens confronted squatters who allegedly moved into her home without permission.
🔒 The owner, Adele Andaloro, found herself locked out of her property and claims squatters have been there since February 6th.
📞 Multiple 911 calls were made, leading to several arrests by the police, including a man who claimed to have rented the property.
🎥 Video footage captured by the news crew showed the property owner discovering her belongings and two men living in her house.
👮‍♂️ Police questioned the occupants and neighbors, seeking documentation to prove the squatters' right to be in the property after 30 days.
🔑 The owner and her daughter entered the property with a property deed, finding one man who claimed to have moved in two days prior.
🚓 One man was taken away in handcuffs, while another refused to leave and claimed the house as his own.
🔨 A locksmith was called to change the locks, but the owner was warned by police about potential legal consequences.
👩‍💼 The situation was deemed a landlord-tenant issue, which must be resolved through housing court, not by the police.
📜 The man claiming to be the lessee could not provide a lease agreement, only bills for work done to the house.
🔒 The property owner was arrested for unlawful eviction after changing the locks without going through the proper legal channels.

Q & A

What is the main issue being faced by the property owner in the transcript?
-The main issue is that the property owner, Adele Andaloro, is dealing with squatters who have moved into her million-dollar home in Queens and refused to leave, despite her attempts to regain possession of her property.
How did the situation escalate to involve law enforcement?
-The situation escalated when Adele called the police after being locked out of her home and discovering that squatters had moved in. Multiple 911 calls were made, leading to the police arriving at the scene and conducting interviews with neighbors and the individuals inside the house.
What is the significance of the 30-day period mentioned in the script?
-In New York, squatters gain certain rights after occupying a property for 30 days. This means that by the time an investigation is completed and any legal action is taken, the squatters may have established rights to the property, complicating the eviction process for the rightful owner.
What was the outcome of the police's initial intervention at the property?
-The police initially arrested one of the men who claimed to have moved in only two days prior. However, they could not immediately remove the other individual who claimed to have been renting the property, as he had not provided proof of his tenancy.
What action did Adele take after the police left the property?
-After the police left, Adele had a locksmith change the locks on her property. However, she was warned by the police that she could face legal consequences if the man claiming tenancy showed up and accused her of illegal eviction.
Why was Adele eventually arrested?
-Adele was arrested for unlawful eviction because she changed the locks on her property, which the man claiming to live there considered a violation of his rights as a tenant, despite her insistence that she was the rightful owner.
What does the man claiming to be the lessee of the property want from Adele?
-The man claims to want compensation for the money he has put into the house, presumably for improvements or repairs, before he will agree to leave the property.
What is the legal advice given to Adele regarding the situation?
-The legal advice given is that the situation should be handled through the housing court rather than with the police. Adele is encouraged to take the man to civil court to resolve the issue of unlawful eviction and tenancy rights.
What documentation does the man claiming to be the lessee have?
-The man only has bills for work he claims to have done on the house, but he does not have a lease agreement or any other documentation to prove his tenancy.
How does the script illustrate the complexities of property rights and eviction laws?
-The script illustrates the complexities by showing the conflict between the property owner and the individuals claiming tenancy rights. It highlights the challenges of proving ownership and the legal processes involved in eviction, especially when squatters or tenants have occupied a property for a certain period and claim rights under housing laws.
What is the final resolution suggested in the script?
-The final resolution suggested is for Adele to pay the man claiming to be the lessee the money he claims to have invested into the property, implying that this might be the only way to resolve the dispute and for her to regain full control of her property.

Outlines

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🏠 Squatter Standoff in Queens

The video script describes a confrontation between a property owner and alleged squatters in her Queens home. The owner, Adele, claims that squatters moved in on February 6th and refused to leave. The situation escalates as police arrive and arrest several individuals, but the complexities of New York's squatter rights laws complicate the resolution. Adele is left enraged and unable to access her own home, highlighting the challenges faced by property owners dealing with squatters.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Squatter

A squatter is an individual who occupies a property without legal rights to do so, often without the owner's consent. In the video, squatters are people who moved into Adele Andaloro's property in Queens, refusing to leave despite her attempts to regain possession. This situation exemplifies the challenges property owners face when dealing with unauthorized occupants.

💡Property Owner

A property owner is an individual or entity that holds legal title to real estate. In the context of the video, Adele Andaloro is the property owner who is trying to regain control of her home in Flushing, Queens, which has been occupied by squatters. The term highlights the legal rights and responsibilities associated with owning real estate.

Highlights

Property owner confronts squatters in her Queens home.

Dozens of officers arrive at the scene in response to the standoff.

Several people are taken away in handcuffs.

Reporter Dan Krauth discusses the growing problem of squatters.

Adele Andaloro is locked out of her inherited Flushing, Queens home.

Squatters have rights after 30 days in New York, complicating the eviction process.

A woman unexpectedly shows up and enters the house.

Adele and her daughter enter the home with a property deed.

Two men are found living in the home, claiming to have moved in recently.

Police interview neighbors and search for documentation to verify claims.

A man is arrested for not having proof of residence for 30 days.

A locksmith is called to change the locks, but the homeowner is warned by police.

The man claiming to lease the house arrives and confronts the homeowner.

The situation is deemed a landlord-tenant issue, requiring civil court resolution.

The man claims to have signed a lease in October but does not provide proof.

Adele Andaloro is arrested for unlawful eviction after changing the locks.

The conflict ends with the requirement for the homeowner to pay for improvements made to the house.