An Ohio homeowner is suing the City of Belpre and two police officers after he says he was arrested for trespassing at a house he had owned for more than 20 years.
Eric Freed says the Campbell Drive property was his home, according to WTAP.
His lawsuit says he allowed a woman and her brother to stay there informally during a remodel, with no lease and no rent involved.
The dispute shows how informal occupancy can create legal and practical problems for property owners when permission to stay, access to the home, and removal from the property are not clearly documented.
The Dispute Started With Informal Guests
According to the lawsuit cited by WTAP, Freed said the arrangement soured after the woman’s brother repeatedly smoked marijuana inside the home despite being told to stop.
When Freed confronted him, the guest claimed he and the woman lived there, not Freed, according to the complaint. Freed said both Belpre police and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office treated the issue as a civil matter in the days before the arrest.
He Posted a Three-Day Notice
Freed’s lawsuit says his attorney prepared a formal three-day notice to vacate, which he posted on the door.
Ohio law generally requires a party seeking to begin certain eviction actions to give notice to leave the premises three or more days before filing, though the proper process can depend on the facts of the occupancy and the property relationship.
The Lawsuit Says a Chain Lock Was Added
Two days later, on June 9, Freed says he returned to the house to do maintenance and found a chain lock had been added to his front door without permission.
He removed it. The complaint says one of the guests called 911, and officers then forced entry into the home without a warrant. Freed says he told officers he was the homeowner, showed a driver’s license listing the address, and offered to have them call his attorney.
The Trespass Charge Was Later Dismissed
Freed claims officers arrested him on a criminal trespass charge and seized his cellphone without a warrant.
WTAP reported that the trespass charge was dismissed in September, according to the complaint. The federal docket lists Freed as the plaintiff and the City of Belpre, Patrolman G.W. Smith, and Sergeant J.R. Fields as defendants in a civil-rights case filed in the Southern District of Ohio.
Written Terms Can Prevent Costly Access Disputes
The lawsuit has not been decided, and the city’s counsel did not respond to WTAP’s request for comment.
For homeowners, the case is a reminder to put temporary living arrangements in writing before someone moves in. Clear terms on access, length of stay, rent, repairs, keys, guests, and removal procedures can reduce confusion if the relationship breaks down and police or courts become involved.