Since retirement I've stayed away from controversial issues dedicating my speaking and writings to human interest. I can't remain silent after what happened on Garrett Drive in Northwoods this past Sunday. Police said 30-year-old Kevin Garrett was killed in the front yard by one of the group home residents.
This is an outrage.
We are grateful to a nearby neighbor whose video camera recorded everything. Pictures do say it best.
Since the home opened in 2017, police have responded 43 times. Weapons were involved in some of these calls and there were injuries. The lady across the street has grandchildren who play in their back yard. They witnessed some of these incidents. I'm not opposed to group homes, but they must have proper supervision with trained caretakers. It takes professional people to deal with individual emotional needs.
The Northwoods Neighborhood Association has many questions. Among them is zoning. This is an R-1 residential neighborhood. If this is a business, we want to know when was it re-zoned? I’ve lived here for nearly 20 years and don’t recall any re-zoning notices.
Do the operators, “Support Solutions,” answer to a governmental agency and how do they get their funding? How many of these homes exist in Hamilton County and what is the criteria to live in one of these houses?
We also want to know if the man charged with the homicide had been properly evaluated by a doctor trained to deal with mental Illness. We are learning he is no stranger to police.
Many neighbors have expressed concern that the home will re-open and some have told me they don’t feel safe.
Our association hopes the property will be sold to a family and Northwoods will return to being a "peaceful neighborhood". Why does it take a tragedy to bring something like this to our attention and the attention of our elected officials?
We call on our Chattanooga Councilman Ken Smith to make this a top priority. We want answers. Since Sunday I've talked with many officers and they tell me It's not just a Northwoods problem but county wide.
Our neighborhood also sends condolences to the family of Kevin Garrett. We appreciate his willingness to undertake a very difficult task for which he gave his life.
Earl Freudenberg