WHITEHAVEN, Tenn. — People at Pepper Tree Apartments said they’re moving out.
That’s because the complex refused to deal with the crime going on there.
Tuesday, WREG told you about shots fired at a police car patrolling the Whitehaven complex.
No one was hurt in that shooting, but we discovered ongoing issues and countless complaints about safety.
WREG went back Wednesday to demand answers from the property owners.
“People are still getting shot!” tenant Whitney Carpenter told us. “People are still getting robbed. I’m talking about broad daylight! We’re still getting robbed!”
It was one of many complaints WREG received from people at Pepper Tree Apartments.
“You don’t have a right to threaten me,” one woman said of the security guards at the complex. “I can talk to whoever I want; do whatever I want. As long as I’m paying my rent and not being disruptive to the property, leave me alone!”
Carpenter told WREG the complex gave her and her 6-month-old son three days to get out after talking to us Tuesday.
She said they told her she was loitering by standing outside her own apartment, but they never gave her an eviction notice.
Other tenants said they do not feel safe and claimed security guards bully them.
Those same guards who tried to handcuff a WREG crew Tuesday physically grabbed a WREG reporter Wednesday and forced her off the property when she tried to go into the leasing office.
So, WREG went straight to the people who train and employ those guards, Securitas Security Services.
They promised to have someone call us, but no one ever did.
Next, WREG went to Tesco Properties, which owns Pepper Tree Apartments to ask them about the problems.
They refused to talk.
The city almost had the complex declared a public nuisance years ago, but the owners swore to make changes.
Many said the DA should reconsider.
“They need to shut them down, because they’re not going to get any better,” Carpenter said.
Tesco Properties said their president was out of the office and will be back Monday.
WREG will be following up with them then to try and get answers for Pepper Tree tenants.
