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Residents ask council to act on long‑running nuisance at Catherwood Drive property
Summary
Multiple neighbors raised public‑safety and nuisance complaints about a longstanding property at (reported) 1353 Catherwood Drive during privilege of the floor, describing drug use, fires, repeated trespass and aggressive animals; council members asked residents to provide evidence and said staff and officers would follow up.
Several South Bend residents used the privilege‑of‑the‑floor portion of the July 28 meeting to urge council action on an ongoing nuisance and safety problems at a property on Catherine/Catherwood Drive.
Residents described repeated incidents at the address they identified as 1353 Catherwood Drive (property owners referenced as deceased homeowners Eugene and Edith Gardner), and named current occupants as James Snodworth and Mandy Garnett. Complaints included frequent daytime and nighttime traffic; verbal and physical altercations; drug use and suspected overdoses requiring ambulance response; unpermitted outdoor burning producing large flames; repeated trespass onto neighbors’ yards; animals running loose; property modifications (a framed structure added without permits); and incidents of persons seen unclothed in public and attempts to break into vehicles.
Speakers included neighborhood residents who said policing and code‑enforcement action to date have been insufficient and who requested a faster administrative response. Residents said the situation has persisted since about 2021 and that they have documented incidents (video and other evidence). Council members and staff asked residents to provide contact information and copies of the videos and said they would forward materials to the clerk and relevant city departments. An officer at the meeting (Officer Born cited by residents) and staff were identified as contacts for follow‑up.
Why it matters: Neighbors described risks to children, pets and general neighborhood safety from ongoing criminal and nuisance activity. Residents requested targeted enforcement and follow‑up from code enforcement and police.
Council response and next steps: Council members asked residents to share evidence with the clerk and with police so staff could conduct a follow‑up. Council members noted they had heard similar reports in a committee meeting and said administrative staff and police would pursue enforcement and outreach. No formal vote or ordinance was taken; the matter was referred for administrative follow‑up.
