Man found living in unbearable conditions

Randy Orton

WC's Resident Alchoholic

Man found living in unbearable conditions
Published: Saturday, March 25, 2006 -- The Truth, A2
Last updated: 3/24/2006 11:46:58 PM
By Jason Schaap
Truth Staff
ELKHART -- A worried call from a woman in Alabama led to the discovery of a home in squalor Thursday.

Elkhart Cpl. Mark DeJong and Patrolman Jeff Darling responded to a home at the 1000 block of East Beardsley Avenue around 5:30 p.m. after the resident's sister said he was suicidal and hadn't heard from him.

DeJong said he and Darling knocked hard on doors and windows for 20 minutes before they saw a man walk out of a room and fall down. He then went to the back and opened a door.

"As soon as the back door opened I smelled a very strong odor of dog feces and other foul smells," DeJong said.

The man appeared to have not showered in weeks, his clothes were dirty and he had what appeared to be wet dog feces on his feet, DeJong said.

While talking to police, the man lost his balance and fell to the floor. He was talking with slurred speech and DeJong could smell the strong odor of alcohol on his breath. He asked the man if he was taking his prescribed medication.

"They just upped my dosage," he replied. The officers then walked in to check his prescriptions.

The inside was in complete disarray. Dog feces covered the floor, and DeJong said it didn't look like there was heat or running water in the home. All the furniture was broken and/or dirty. There were four to six dogs running around the house covered in feces. Some of the windows were broken out and the basement windows were open.

"From my time and numerous houses I have encountered and been inside, this house was the worst I have seen," said DeJong, an 11-year Elkhart police veteran. "The living conditions were unlivable for a normal person."

The man was transported to Elkhart General Hospital, where he was treated and later committed, DeJong said. A hospital spokesperson said no information about the man was available Friday.

An Elkhart animal control officer said he left the dogs in the care of a family member.

Contact Jason Schaap at jschaap@etruth.com.