A man could face charges after he entered his condemned Groveland Street, Haverhill, home.
Wellington “Bill” Clark Jr. told WHAV, he saw a broken cellar window July 20 at the house, whose foundation was partially washed away by a city water main break in May. He said he called both Haverhill Building Commissioner Thomas K. Bridgewater and police, as instructed, before going to the property.
“But when he didn’t get back to me by the following Friday, my sister, her husband and I used my key to go into the house,” the 68-year-old told WHAV. “We discovered furniture and my personal effects had been thrown around and my coin collection and a watch my father gave me were gone. So, I reported that to the police.”
Instead of getting help, Clark may face a charge of filing a false report. He explained, a Haverhill Police detective showed up Sunday morning at his brother’s house, where he is staying, and asked him to go to the police station. There, Clark said, he was told video footage from security camera the city mounted to monitor the front door of his house showed only him and his relatives entering the house.
Haverhill Acting Deputy Police Chief Meaghan Paré told WHAV that there are “inconsistencies with what Mr. Clark reported to us initial and subsequently. But he is innocent until proven guilty.” She said while detectives are still reviewing all of the information, she believes charges are likely forthcoming following a probable cause hearing at Haverhill District Court.
Repairs to Clark’s house, at the corner of Groveland and Water Streets, have stalled because both his own homeowner’s insurance and the city’s carrier denied his disaster claim.
Haverhill Mayor Melinda E. Barrett told WHAV she cannot comment on an open police matter. However, she said the reason Clark has been told he cannot enter his house on his own is to keep everyone safe.
“I do know that Tom Bridgewater has been very responsive to him,” Barrett added. “In fact, I believe Tom was meeting with a contractor at the house today.”
City officials have explained that due to an exemption in state law, the city is not responsible for the damage cause by the water main break. However, the city’s engineering department has drawn up plans for temporary repairs to prevent the house from falling to allow a structural engineer inside to see exactly what is required to repair the foundation, stabilize it and put the house back in order. The city has also offered to arrange temporary housing for Clark.
As WHAV previously reported, Clark’s daughter, Jennifer Bowles, said they received an estimate of $200,000 just to repair the foundation. She said the basement filled with more than three feet of water and that several inches of dirt, debris, rocks and pieces of wood ended up underneath the house and are covering the basement’s concrete floor. The flood left a gaping eight-foot hole in the house’s foundation and, as well as a long hole in the sidewalk next to the house that the city has covered with heavy metal plates. The heating system and electrical service will have to be replaced as well as some doors and windows, she said. Her father also lost his front stairs and his washer and dryer. Bowles added she expects mold is now growing inside.
Clark said that he has been “living in hell” for the last three and half months due to a situation he did not cause.
“All I want is for my house to be repair and to get back into it,” he said.