Squatter caught after leaving dog inside vacant ohio apartment — 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.

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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

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Chris Quigley is a Staff Writer and Community News Correspondent for Shore News Network, where she covers local government, public safety, community affairs, politics, and issues impacting residents throughout New Jersey. Her reporting focuses on delivering timely, accurate, and relevant news that helps readers stay informed about the communities in which they live and work.

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Quigley is committed to responsible journalism, emphasizing accuracy, source verification, and transparency in every story she reports. She strives to present information in a clear and accessible manner, helping readers better understand the issues, decisions, and events that impact their daily lives.

Through her work at Shore News Network, Chris Quigley contributes to the organization's mission of providing trusted local news coverage, accountability reporting, and community-focused journalism throughout New Jersey.

Chris Quigley is a graduate of Stockton State University and began her career at IN Jersey, the online news and media branch of the Asbury Park Press. She also worked at Monmouth Internet, the Ocean Signal Newspaper, and JTOWN Magazine during her career in both content management and operations.

Degrees: Business B.A. - Stockton University

Experience and interests: Criminal Justice, Business, Animal Care, Entertainment, Lottery News, Local News