Fugitive Search Leads To Condemnation Of S. Union St. Home
Fugitive Search Leads To Condemnation Of S. Union St. Home
Posted
Amanda Bridgman-
Fugitive Search Leads To Condemnation Of S. Union St. HomeA search for a fugitive by police in January resulted in the home facing city code violations and being condemned by the county health department.
The home at 316 S. Union St., Warsaw, appeared on the city’s code enforcement docket Tuesday after Warsaw police brought the condition of the home to the attention of officials.
According to Warsaw Code Enforcement Officer Dana Hewitt, the home was owned by Rita Kay Busz Swope. However, she died and the property is occupied and owned by her husband, Darwin.
“The property was brought to our attention by local enforcement and the fire department,” Hewitt said.
In January, local law enforcement agencies teamed up for a “warrant blitz” and went to the home in search of Jason Lee Busz, 40, who was wanted for possession of methamphetamine and theft charges.
According to court records, when police made entry they did not find Jason, but in his room located more than 100 used hypodermic needs, a smoking device, digital scale and a bag containing 1.1 grams of methamphetamine. Jason was later apprehended and booked in the county jail.
At the home at the time of the warrant, police did locate Kimberly Busz, Jason’s sister. She allegedly asked police to leave the residence and was granted permission so she could use the bathroom since there was no working toilet.
According to court papers, in Kimberly’s room, police found 23 hypodermic needs and a plastic bag containing methamphetamine. Kimberly is facing drug charges and has a warrant out for her arrest, according to court records.
“When they went in there, they noticed a lot of drug paraphernalia and drugs and they noticed that they had no running water, the toilets apparently were not working and they were using buckets and other containers to relieve themselves,” Hewitt said. “Based off that information, we obtained an inspection warrant signed by the judge and with the assistance of Warsaw Police Department and the fire department, Ray (Behling, city building commissioner) and I and the health department entered the house and talked to the owner, Darwin Busz.”
Hewitt said there were buckets and fast-food cups all over the house filled with human waste and urine. He said the home’s occupants – Darwin and his daughter, Kimberly – were using the oven as a heat source and that there was a large amount of personal belongings stacked up throughout the house, similar to a hoarding situation.
Bill Baxter, environmental scientist with the Kosciusko County Health Department, spoke at Tuesday’s meeting about the home.
“We condemned it for toilets not functioning and containers of urine present ... being uninhabitable and proposing a significant risk to neighborhood homes,” Baxter said. “The day we did go in ... the daughter, Kimberly, she did run water at the tub in the bathroom, so water was running. ... They admitted that (the toilets) didn’t work and we did see small buckets and fast-food containers, large soft drink containers that had been used to use for bathroom. It probably eventually would be dumped somewhere. But it’s just, in general, I don’t think anybody cleaned it for a long time.”
Baxter said the condemnation order to evacuate came due at midnight Monday.
“No one has been in contact with us from the time we went to the house,” Baxter said, with Hewitt confirming that Darwin was properly served with notice to attend Tuesday’s meeting. Baxter said Kimberly lived in the home and had a bedroom that was her space, and that he believes Darwin lives in the basement.
“He was there. He was upstairs. He didn’t look well,” Baxter said.
City Code Enforcement Hearing Officer Tom Earhart asked Baxter what was the explanation given by Kimberly or Darwin.
“There was not really an explanation,” Baxter said. “The daughter mentioned that since her mom had passed, Darwin kinda gave up, I think. I don’t know that it was very good when she was living (though), because we’ve been called there several times for just the outside and it looked kinda trashy.”
“Did they acknowledge the problem with the interior of the house and suggest they were gonna take any actions to clean that up?” Earhart asked.
“(Kimberly) acknowledged that there were issues and it was dirty but didn’t give any indication they were gonna do anything. And Darwin himself, I talked to her because I don’t think he could’ve taken anything in. Just looked like he was shell shocked that his son was on the lam and then had a warrant, the drugs and all this stuff, and then his wife passed away and then we show up, and he just had that appearance to me,” Baxter said.
City and county officials took photos of the residence Feb. 4 and the home was tagged condemned Feb. 5.
Baxter said prior to the photos being taken, he had no luck getting anyone to answer the door, and it was only when armed with police and a warrant were they able to get inside.
“If we don't have cooperation from the homeowner ... then we would be seeking a demolition order on the property. ... We were hoping (Darwin) would be here today,” Hewitt said.
Baxter said he planned to go the home later Tuesday to see if people are still living in the home. “They were told they have to leave by midnight,” he said.
The matter was continued until the April 13 meeting.
