Imagine being punished for a problem you didn't create, like a homeless camp taking over your Texas property, but you're the one who gets the ticket.
A Dallas man says he's stuck paying fines for a homeless camp that set up on land he owns in Travis County.
Aiden Johnson bought property on Veldt Drive in East Travis County a few years ago, planning to build on it eventually. Instead, it quickly became home to trailers, trash, and even open fires from people camping out.
"It just seems to be completely out of control," Johnson said.
The situation has only escalated. Johnson was hit with a health violation from Austin Public Health and is now facing a court summons. The problem? He says he can't legally or safely remove the people himself.
"I really don't feel that I should need to go down there armed with an army to forcibly remove people," he said. "That's not something a citizen should be doing. I'm not Batman."
Johnson claims every agency he's called for help has passed the buck.
"I'm very confused about the front between the police, the Constables, and Public Health, why it is that they've been completely unwilling to help, and that they expect me to somehow resolve this on my end," he said.
The Travis County Sheriff's Office told us public health violations are civil matters, but they're willing to work with Johnson on criminal trespass warnings. Johnson says he's had some back-and-forth with deputies and that they've promised to come up with a plan.
For now, he's stuck. Cleanup crews and fencing companies won't go near the site while people are still living there, and Johnson worries the longer the camp sits, the more expensive it'll be to clean up.
"I am happy to do the cleanup if someone can get the people off the property," he said. "But it's kind of getting to the point where I might have to abandon the land, because it's going to cost more than the land is worth."
Austin Public Health confirmed the violation, saying the issue is tied up in ongoing litigation. Johnson has a pre-trial hearing set for Sept. 16.