Squatter caught after leaving dog inside vacant Ohio apartment

September 29, 2025
September 29, 2025
Photo 82433679 © Jinyoung Lee | Dreamstime.com

Man arrested after living in vacant Columbus apartment with dog

Columbus, OH – A man was taken into custody after officers discovered he had been staying in a vacant residence with his dog, police said Tuesday.

On September 23 around 6:41 p.m., officers were called to the 600 block of Kingsford Road after a maintenance worker reported finding a dog inside an apartment that was supposed to be unoccupied. When police arrived, they secured the animal and noticed the windows to the first-floor unit were left open.

Shortly afterward, James Watts approached the officers and claimed ownership of the dog. Witnesses told police that Watts had been living inside the vacant apartment for several weeks.

Watts was arrested and booked into the Franklin County Jail on one count of burglary. The dog was safely removed from the unit.

Key Points

  • Police discovered a dog inside a vacant apartment on Kingsford Road in Columbus
  • James Watts was identified as the owner and accused of living in the unit for weeks
  • Watts was arrested and charged with burglary, while the dog was secured by police