You both did that all on your own.
I just documented it.
I turned to the board members.
Did any of you know that Karen has been misappropriating HOA funds?
That she’s been pocketing assessment fees and falsifying financial records?
The board members looked shocked.
That’s not we never one of them started.
Here are the financial records, I said, sliding documents across the table.
Official HOA accounts versus Karen’s personal banking records.
Notice the correlation between special assessments and deposits to her personal account.
That’s embezzlement.
That’s fraud.
Karen was standing now, her hands gripping the table.
You have no right to access my financial records.
I had probable cause and a warrant.
Everything was done legally.
Unlike pretty much everything you’ve done for the past three years.
I turned to face the entire room.
Here’s what’s going to happen.
Brandon is going to be charged with criminal trespass, vandalism, destruction of property, and contributing to delinquency of minors.
Karen is going to be investigated for fraud, embezzlement, and abuse of power.
The HOA’s financial records are going to be audited by the state regulatory board.
You can’t do this, Karen shrieked.
My brother-in-law is a lawyer.
We’ll sue you for everything.
Go ahead, I said calmly.
I welcome it.
Discovery should be fascinating.
Brandon suddenly stood up.
This is .
You think you’re so tough?
You think your little badge scares me?
He took a step toward me, his fists clenched.
My family owns this neighborhood.
We own you, Brandon, I said quietly.
I strongly suggest you sit down and remain quiet.
Or what he was in my face now chestpuffed out teenage bravado mixed with genuine panic.
You going to arrest me for what?
Having a party?
Give me a break, old man.
Then he made his final mistake.
He put his hand on my chest and shoved me.
The moment Brandon’s hand made contact with my chest, the entire room seemed to freeze.
That single shove, witnessed by over a hundred people, just sealed his fate.
“Brandon Mitchell,” I said calmly, pulling handcuffs from my belt.
“You’re under arrest for assault on a law enforcement officer, criminal trespass, vandalism, destruction of property, and contributing to the delinquency of minors.”
“What?”
No.
Brandon backed up his bravado evaporating.
I barely touched you.
That’s not assault.
Any unwanted physical contact with an officer is assault.
Congratulations.
You just upgraded your charges.
I keyed my radio.
