A Schuylkill County woman had to be forcibly removed from her condemned home last month after she was allegedly living there and powering it with a generator.
Police in Mahanoy Township say they were called to 919 W. Centre St. on the evening of Nov. 15 for a report of a generator running at a home that had been codemned.
As police arrived, they say they noticed a generator running at the rear of the residence and an extension cord leading through the rear storm door. On Nov. 11, police say they joined Code Enforcement in the township at this same residence and determined that the generator was powering the home.
The property was then posted as condemned and the homeowner – identified as Autumn Kunsman, 49 – was told she could only be in the home from sunrise to sunset to make repairs on the electrical system.
Police say they disconnected the power leading into the home from the generator and attempted to reach Kunsman inside at the time.
Kunsman, police say, come outside and was told that she couldn’t power the home with a generator. In response, police say Kunsman said she’d spoken with an attorney who reportedly told her that she was within her rights to live in a home with no electricity service.
Police disagreed and said running a gas-powered generator in a run of row homes not only presented a safety hazard but it was also noisy. They reportedly told Kunsman she needed to leave the property.
Kunsman once again disagreed and retreated back inside the home. Police say they followed her to the back door but Kunsman shut the door on them and attempted to keep it shut to prevent police from entering.
Police say they were able to push the door open and told Kunsman she needed to leave for the night and attempted to escort her through the front door. Kunsman allegedly refused, shoved an officer backwards into the kitchen, and then dialed 9-1-1.
After getting shoved, police say they told Kunsman she was under arrest and to get her hands behind her back. Kunsman then tensed up, police say, and pulled an arm back toward the front of her body to prevent police from cuffing her.
This struggle continued until police say they took Kunsman to the floor in the kitchen but then she placed her hands under her body. After threatening to use a Taser on her to get her to comply, police say they were able to place Kunsman under arrest.
Once Kunsman was inside the police patrol vehicle, they say they went back in the residence and found two dogs, one which had large tumors on its body. There were also four cats upstairs.
Police say they collected Kunsman’s information back at their headquarters and she was released from custody and taken back to the condemned building to secure her pets and gather some belongings.
Kunsman is being charged with misdemeanor counts of defiant trespass, resisting arrest, and for dialing 9-1-1. She’s also facing a summary count of harassment. A preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Anthony Kilker has been scheduled for Dec. 18.
Subscribe to Coal Region Canary
Get email updates from Coal Region Canary by becoming a subscriber today. Just enter your email address below to get started!Support Coal Region Canary
Like our reporting and want to support truly local news in Schuylkill County? Your small donations help. For as little as $5, your contribution will allow us to cover more news that directly affects you. Consider donating today by hitting the big yellow button below ...