City of Garland, Texas Code Compliance Targets Resident - Timeline of Events

Cheryl Reno: Garland, TX. Code Enforcement Officer

May 18, 2017
Received warning of violations letter

May 30, 2017
Received final notice letter for:
   Improper Storage
   Parking on Unimproved Surface
   Unsightly Conditions

June 6, 2017
Received three citations for:
   Improper Storage
   Parking on Unimproved Surface
   Unsightly Conditions


June 13, 2017
Received two citations for:
   Improper Storage
   Unsightly Conditions (Permit a Nuisance)

June 16, 2017
Requested a court date in person at courthouse for pre trial hearing
Court clerk set date for July 6, 2017 at 9AM

June 26, 2017
Notice Directing Abatement of a Nuisance was taped to front door by Rick Barker, Administrator of Code Compliance department.

June 27, 2017
Received duplicate of Notice Directing Abatement of a Nuisance by USPS

June 28, 2017
Called Code Compliance Director Steve Killen. Left a voice mail

June 30, 2017
Received call from Code Compliance Director Steve Killen.
Notes: I requested to have Inspector Dawood Haq back off from issuing additional citations until after court appearance on July 6, 2017. Also, informed Killen that inspector Haq was identifying himself as a Code Enforcement Officer while the Texas Dept of Health informed me that Mr. Haq was not an officer but, had applied for a Code Enforcement Officer in Training licence.
Mr. Killen informed me that he would not offer any leeway until my property was made compliant.

July 6, 2017
Court Appearance -Meeting with Senior Assistant City Attorney, Kurt Banowsky
All five (5) citations issued on June 6 and June 13, 2017 were DISMISSED
Notes: I showed Mr. Banowsky multiple pictures taken just hours before meeting with him (July 6), showing the current condition of the back yard. Several hours of labor was put into removing trash, materials, etc. and other items were either moved indoors or covered with a weather resistant tarp.
Mr. Banowsky stated it was obvious that significant work had been done and informed me that he will submit Motions to Dismiss for all 5 citations for Compliance. I was given a printed copy of the Motions to Dismiss.
NOTE: Inspector Haq was not present in courtroom and was not aware of the dismissals. He returned to property the following day while pursuing a warrant to abate.
Citation numbers that were Dismissed:
C4105271 - (6/13/17) Improper Storage
C4105272 - (6/13/17) Permit a Nuisance
C4105247 - (6/6/17)   Improper Storage
C4105248 - (6/6/17)   Parking Unimproved Surface
C4105249 - (6/6/17)   Permit a Nuisance, Unsightly Conditions

Pic taken on 7-6-18 and shown to prosecutor. 
All citations dismissed.

Pic taken on 7-6-18 and shown to prosecutor. 
All citations dismissed.

Pic taken on 7-6-18 and shown to prosecutor. 
All citations dismissed.

July 6, 2017
Sold and removed vehicle that had been parked in several areas in the back yard.

July 14, 2017 - 8:30 AM
Search and Seizure Warrant served and executed

Cheryl Reno - Housing Standards Division - Garland Code Compliance

Notes:
I was greeted at my front door by two unidentified Code Enforcement officers (a man and a woman), eight Hispanic laborers and their supervisor and one Garland police officer. The CE people were later identified as being Cheryl Reno and Nick Moss.
The woman informed me they had a warrant to search the yard and abate any violations they find. I informed her that the citations for those violations were dismissed the previous week. She told me that this (warrant) was a "separate action." (Recorded with phone using video)
I cooperated by giving them access to the locked yard.
The warrant listed specific items that were to be removed (abated). They removed a lot of items but, numerous items that they had a right to remove, were left at my property (example: paint cans) and several items that were not violations, was removed (example: empty yard/trash containers, soaker hose, etc.)
I was not given a list of items that were removed when they completed the search. A list was to be given to me as well as the judge in a Return on Warrant. The return was never filed but, a signed, blank return was made and given to me after I filed a second request for public information.
All items were taken to the Garland Auto Impound Lot and placed OUTDOORS on bare ground that was covered in muddy puddles. None of the items stored was covered by a tarp, etc.
Note: The Affidavit requesting the warrant was submitted on July 10, 2017
The warrant was granted and signed at 1:10 PM on July 11, 2017 by Judge Beasley (the same judge who dismissed the previous 5 citations)

July 14, 2017
I went to the Impound Lot to retrieve as many items as possible before the lot closed. I was able to recover several items with the pickup truck that I borrowed from a friend. I was forced to leave several items that had value, including a 8,000 BTU window unit air conditioner.
I paid $35 cash to gain entry. I have not returned for more items due to the fact that I was to be charged $35 per day which would total an additional $105 (for 3 days storage).
Note: This is where and how my property was stored... Outdoors.

July 15, 2017
Received two letters dated 7/13/17 and postmarked July 14, 2017
Letter #1 contained citation # C4106418
Letter #2 contained citations C4106414, C4106415, C4106417 and C4106419
Citation numbers 417, 418 and 419 had date of offense marked "6/6/17"
Citation numbers 414 and 415 had date of offense marked "6/13/17"

Offenses of citations:
C4106417 (6/6/17) - Improper Storage in back yard
C4106418 (6/6/17) - Parking Unimproved Surface back yard
C4106419 (6/6/17) - Permit a Nuisance - Unsightly Conditions
Note: Issued by Dawood Haq *6847*

C4106414 (6/13/17) - Improper Storage in back yard
C4106415 (6/13/17) - Permit a Nuisance - Unsightly Conditions 
Note: Issued by Dawood Haq  4867

July 17, 2017
Received two letters sent in one envelope postmarked July 17, 2017, Letters dated 7/16/17
Letter #1 contained citation #C4106420 - Parking on Unimproved Surface (7/14/17)
Letter #2 contained citation #C4106421 - Improper Storage (7/14/17)
Note: Issued by Dawood Haq 4867

July 17, 2017
Submitted in person, a Public Information Request form with the City of Garland Code Compliance office.
Requested all information regarding the original complaint filed against me, all pictures and inspector notes made and taken from May 15, 2017 thru July 17, 2017. Requested to pick up in person.

July 19, 2017
Called City Managers office to request a meeting to discuss code enforcement officer/dept.
Was told by assistant they would contact code enforcement director Steve Killen and get back to me.
Was not called back.

July 20, 2017
Received phone call from Code Compliance Director, Steve Killen. (Call recorded)
Summary: Was told to consult an attorney if further action is desired and they have "not broken any laws whatsoever" with any actions taken against me.
Mr. Killen informed me that he investigated my previous claim that Inspector Haq was not a licensed Code Enforcement Officer. Stated that there was a glitch in Austin and Mr. Haq was a licensed Code Enforcement Officer.
At conclusion of call, research showed that Mr. Haq was NOT licensed with the Texas Department of Health Services.

July 21, 2017
Appeared in person at the Garland courthouse to request a pre trial date for the seven citations received on July 15 and July 17, 2017.
Pre trial date set for Thursday, August 10, 2017 at 9:00 AM

July 22, 2017
Received notice for all seven citations to contact the court within 30 days to request court date. (requested the previous day)

July 27, 2017
Received invoice for admin charge and cleaning fee for abatement conducted on July 14, 2017.
Work and inspection the result of a search warrant obtained illegally.
Labor charge: $352
Admin charge: $194
Total: $546 due by Aug. 9, 2017

July 28, 2017 4:00 PM
Searched website of TX Dept of Health Services for Dawood Haq license information.
NO RECORD found.

July 31, 2017
Repeated search for license information on Dawood Haq. The following was listed:
Dawood Haq
Registered Code Enforcement Officer
License #6257
Effective date: July 28, 2017

July 31, 2017
Picked up CD containing public information request.
CD contained 62 pictures, copy of warnings and citations, brief email exchanges to/from Dawood Haq from May 18, 2017 and June 13, 2017. Other people included in the emails were, Cheryl Reno, Rick Barker, and Oswaldo Rodruigez.

Coming soon....
All events and updates for August and September, 2017