Soldier in battle to rid home of
squatters, Florida sheriff’s office says it can’t do anything [UPDATED]
By Charlene Sakoda22
hours agoOdd News
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Soldier in battle to rid home of squatters, Florida
sheriff’s office says it can’t do anything
Soldier
Michael Sharkey was deployed to Afghanistan two years ago and asked a friend to
watch over his house in New Port Richey, Florida. Sharkey never thought that he
would have to fight a battle to save his home from ex-convict squatters.
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Julio Ortiz (WFLA)
As reported by WFLA News Channel 8, strangers broke into the home Sharkey
shared with his wife Danielle, changed the locks, then moved in. The squatters,
Julio Ortiz and his girlfriend Fatima Cardoso, then refused to leave. Ortiz
claims that there was a verbal ‘contract’ made with Sharkey’s friend who was
watching the home. Mr. Ortiz said the agreement was that he would live there
rent-free while he renovated the house, then later a rental agreement would be
worked out. However, Sharkey and Lisa Pettus, Sharkey’s friend, say there was
no such agreement.
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The house renovations (WFLA)
Pettus said she met
Ortiz through a friend and the only agreement was that he would fix up the
house while the Sharkeys were away. When Pettus drove by the house two months
after the renovation was completed, she found the squatters living in the home.
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Michael Sharkey speaks to WFLA via Skype (WFLA)
"I want the people
out. They're criminals living in my house," Michael Sharkey told WFLA. “I
have never spoke to these people in my life.” Specialist Sharkey called the
Pasco County Sheriff’s Office from Afghanistan to deal with the situation and
his wife flew to Florida from Hawaii, where Sharkey is currently stationed. Ms.
Sharkey went to the house and had a sheriff’s deputy with her but was
unsuccessful in removing the two squatters. Instead, after Ortiz told the
deputy that there was a verbal agreement, the deputy told Danielle that it was
a civil matter and he could do nothing.
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Michael and Danielle Sharkey (WFLA)
Ken Doll, Pasco County
Sheriff’s Office spokesperson told the station that the squatters have
established residency in the home. The sheriff’s office could not force the
couple to leave without a court ordered formal eviction. That wasn’t
satisfactory to Mr. Sharkey who questioned, “Basically what you’re telling me
is just because they’re in the house and they took up residence, they can live
there. Okay, so I can go down the street and find an empty house and just kick
in the door and start living there and that’s my residence. I don’t think that
would work.” He added, "I don't think I should have to pay hundreds of
dollars and go through that aggravation…I work hard, long hours, and these
people never had permission to live in my home. They should be thrown
out." The Sharkeys are also concerned that if they do get the formal
eviction, the squatters will damage their home.
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The Sharkey's house (WFLA)
The two have both spent
time in prison. Ortiz was released in 2011 after serving time for robbery, car
jacking and selling drugs on school property. Cardoso was released in 2006
after serving more than two years for drug charges. Both have since been
arrested in Pasco County on drug charges.
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Fatima Cardoso (WFLA)
The squatters know that
the family wants them out of the house, but say they won’t leave until they
want to. That may be sooner than Ortiz lets on because the two have been using
buckets for water, unable to get the utility company to turn it on without a lease.
Support has streamed in for the Sharkeys since the
station originally aired their story. Many have offered the military family
help and agree with Sharkey’s outrage. "They are criminals,” said the
soldier. “I am serving my country, and they have more rights to my home than I
do."
UPDATE April 24,
2014 9:22 AM PDT:
WFLA reports that the squatters appeared to be moving out
of Sharkey’s home on Wednesday evening. A mini-van and car were seen in the
driveway being packed.
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(WFLA)
The station noted that
veterans groups stepped up offering the Sharkeys help in removing the
squatters. Lauren Price of one of the groups, Veterans Warriors, told WFLA,
"I don't think [Ortiz is] a squatter. I think he's a criminal and what he
did is breaking and entering." The station reports that Price’s group and
another veterans advocacy group “found an attorney to handle the eviction
process for free,” and they will be watching over the home to make sure the
squatters do not vandalize it.
WFLA also notes that
more supporters in Tampa Bay had planned a Sunday motorcycle ride to Sharkey’s
house to “peacefully make the squatters uncomfortable,” if they hadn’t moved.
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