Looted homeowner alleging that police don't want to help

They say there are two sides to every story.

In the case of an Avon Park home allegedly looted and located on 914 W. Pleasant St., there's Sandra Snelling's, Donald Hensley Jr.'s and the Avon Park police's.

On Nov. 12, code enforcement responded to a complaint that the home was being looted. Code enforcement officers were told by neighbors that people were coming into the home at all hours of the night and removing things.

When they arrived, clothes, toys, photos and trash were scattered on the front lawn. But according to Snelling, that could have been avoided if Avon Park Police Department would have stepped in when she called them on Oct. 5.

The home was owned by her mother, Edna J. Hensley, who died Feb. 15. Snelling is the heir of the home that was being occupied by her brother Donald Hensley Jr., who is eluding police in an unrelated case.

On Oct. 5, Snelling said she arrived and saw people taking things from the home.

"I caught them red-handed," Snelling said.

Avon Park Police Officer Nathan Coogan responded to the call but details on the complaint are pending the investigation.

According to Snelling, the neighbors, whose names are not being released, told police that Donald Hensley gave them permission to take things from the home. Snelling disagreed but without Hensley, police said it's a "he said she said case."

"After speaking with Officer Coogan, we feel at this point it is more of a civil matter," Cmdr. Michael Rowan said.

Until Hensley's whereabouts are confirmed, police said they do not know if he has taken an extended vacation or has permanently moved. And without that, they cannot charge the questionable subjects with burglary or trespassing.

When Snelling called police, the home was not in the state of disarray code enforcement officers found it in, about a month later.

"I did my best to try and cooperate with the law. They said they would not do anything unless they talked to my brother," Snelling said.

Shortly after Highlands Today's article printed, Hensley called with his story.

Hensley said he has not lived in the home since mid August and Snelling has control of his mother's estate.

"They told her that they wouldn't do nothing until I turned myself in. They turned their back on the whole situation because they have a vendetta against me," Hensley said.

Hensley said before he left, he gave his TV and electronics to a neighbor he considered a friend, to hold on to while he got his legal issues taken care of.

Hensley said he never gave anyone permission to enter the home while he was gone.

He remembers locking up the house and securing everything before he left.

The items taken from the home including a trailer, tools, a fish tank and household items were not with his permission, he said.

According to police, the complaint falls under landlord-tenant civil laws.

For Snelling to have the authority to enter the home, she needs to evict her brother.

Or Hensley could provide a change of address which would establish that he no longer lives at the home, Rowan said.

Although the civil laws are not in her favor, a week ago Snelling cleaned up the outside of the home and has since brought it into compliance. The home was not cited for the violations.

Avon Park Code Enforcement Officer Donald Simmons said, "The house doesn't look like the same place...It's cleaned up."