A rent dispute turned into a 1 a.m. doorstep showdown in Wheelersburg after a caller reported their intoxicated landlord had been outside all night demanding $200.
🚨 Deputies Step Into a Drunken Rent Standoff
When officers arrived, they found the landlord insisting he was owed rent money right now, while the tenants claimed they were withholding payment because they’d already spent money on repairs to the house — repairs they say the landlord refused to cover.
Deputies quickly realized this wasn’t a crime — it was a classic civil dispute.
So officers:
- ✔️ Told both parties this is a civil matter, not a police matter
- ✔️ Advised them to separate for the night
- ✔️ Explained that the disagreement must be handled through landlord-tenant court, not a midnight shouting match
All parties agreed to go inside and cool off.
🏠🚫 What Police Can’t Do in Landlord–Tenant Drama
Deputies say they get calls like this all the time, and residents often misunderstand what officers can legally handle.
Police cannot:
- Force someone to pay rent
- Force a tenant to move out
- Decide who’s right in a repair dispute
- Mediate lease disagreements
- Kick someone off their own property without a court order
Those issues belong in civil court, not 911.
🧠 So What Can You Do in a Rent or Repair Dispute?
If you ever find yourself in a landlord-tenant standoff, experts recommend:
📑 Keep records — leases, receipts, texts, photos
📝 Send concerns in writing
🏛️ File in small claims or eviction court
🚪 Avoid face-to-face confrontations, especially at night
📞 Call police only if threats or violence occur
👉 Midnight rent demands rarely solve anything — but staying calm, keeping records, and using the court system always gives you the upper hand.
