Couple Claims They Were Barricaded from Home b

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP -- A couple residing on Yankee Street claims they had been barricaded from their home after refusing to pay for a construction project they did not sign off on.

"In June, when it flash flooded in Dayton our creek flooded and it washed our bridge away," said homeowner Emily Clark.

The Clarks share the bridge with their neighbors, as a shared driveway entrance.

After the flooding, Emily Clark says they agreed with neighbors on a $12,000 bridge replacement, then an $18,000 bridge replacement, that were both approved by the Montgomery County Engineer's Office.

The Clarks claim their neighbors backed out of both plans and instead hired an engineer and had a $30,000 replacement bridge built without their consent.

"We told them the day the bridge went out we don't have much money, we're a young family," said Emily Clark.

Clark says spending $15,000 for half of that bridge would put them in debt and drain their bank accounts.

"Their lawyer sent us an email saying they would be barricading us so we can't drive home until we give them $15,000," she said, "So they're holding our house hostage until we pay them their $15,000 ransom."

Emily took pictures of the barricades blocking she and her husband from accessing the driveway to their home, that continued after the bridge was built.

"We had to park on the grass a lot of the times and then just hike through snow and ice and mud and cold and rain to get home, over an acre," Emily said about the issue.

The Clarks claim to have an easement that allows them and their guests equal access to the driveway, bridge included.

Legal counsel has become involved to represent each neighbor, and Clark said police have been called to the home on multiple occasions to keep the peace.

"Zoning finally sent them a letter saying you can't have all that stuff in your front yard you need to remove your debris," said Clark.

"January 16th, we finally had to tow their vehicle and move all the barricades just so we could get to our home," she added.

The Clarks say even after all the hassle and controversy, they want to sell their home, but fear foreclosure or bankruptcy before then because of growing legal fees and threats by their neighbors to sue in civil court.

When our reporters tried to speak with the Clark's neighbors, they did not answer their door or their home phone, and their attorney said he could not comment on the case.

The Clarks say plans submitted to the Montgomery County Engineer's Office to build a separate driveway were denied.

The Clarks have a GoFundMe account to help them out of their situation.

Видео Couple Claims They Were Barricaded from Home b канала Dayton 24/7 Now