Man vandalizes own home to protest neighborhood complaints about his constant gunfire
An Ohio man covered his own home with graffiti to protest his neighbors' complaints about frequent gunfire on his property.
Michael Wiggins used black paint to scrawl "stop bullying me" and "falsely accused" across his historic Pierce Township estate as part of an ongoing feud between the 65-year-old and his neighbors, police and zoning officials told local TV station WCPO-TV.
"I usually cut trees down when these people p--- me off to get my anger out," Wiggins said. "You push me and push me and push me and push me and I feel like an animal in a cage.
"If I had New York lawyers and stuff and they could fly in on Delta to come in I would, but I don't. So I feel like if I did this, if the right people see it, they'll understand why."
Court records show the 65-year-old Wiggins was charged in January with a noise violation and criminal trespassing, and a neighbor also complained he was trespassing on Nov. 12. But Wiggins insists he shot a deer on his land and a friend followed the wounded animal onto the neighbor's property.
"The police come and they got the picture of the guy and it don't even look like me," Wiggins said.
ALSO READ: Enviro congressman’s wife buys — then dumps — dozens of oil, energy and other stocks
Wiggins spelled out police chief Paul Broxterman's name on his home in protest. The chief told WCPO-TV he's been trying to mediate a peaceful solution with Wiggins, his wife and their neighbors.
"In my 35 years of policing I've never been subjected to that before," Broxterman said. "But I'm not offended. I know he's frustrated."
Wiggins said he's been cited for loud music, but the police chief said that's not accurate and said the complaints were over frequent gunfire on his property — which Broxterman said exceeded reasonable limits for responsible use.
"No one in the area or with this police department is going to infringe on his Second Amendment right," Broxterman said. "But he states that he's hunting coyotes, and when you're firing 20 to 30 shots at a time, you know I question are you hunting coyotes or are you trying to create a nuisance to your neighbors?"
The gunfire can be heard at all hours of the day, Broxterman said — noting that coyotes are nocturnal animals.
Wiggins also painted the name of community development and planning director Eddie McCarthy on his house to protest his concerns about a structure he built at the back of his property that looks like a cabin, but he says is meant for agriculture and storage.
"They said it's too pretty," Wiggins said. "They say I might live there."
McCarthy told the TV station the matter had been resolved Tuesday after the appropriate zoning permits had been filed, but Wiggins said he can't wait to sell his home that's been on the market for months.
"I don't know what more to do than (paint) this," said Wiggins. "Because I don't want to get crazy or anything."
Watch the video below or at this link.