The situation that led to the beating of a city code enforcement officer Tuesday was based on a March 5 notice of public nuisance, according to a copy of the letter obtained Wednesday.

The notice, written by Walter Johnson, the city employee who was assaulted, allegedly by William Gilbert Roundtree III, says, “The Public Works Department has recently inspected your property or has received a complaint of said property at 2100 Roanoke Avenue in Roanoke Rapids, N.C.

“From review of the inspection/complaint we found junk, trash, appliances, firewood, tires and building materials on the front porch, back deck, under the carports and in the yard.”

The notice states the materials found are in violation of General Provision 96.02 and gave Roundtree 10 days from receipt of the letter to remove the material. “Should you fail, neglect or refuse to abate the above nuisance, the City Manager shall have the condition corrected by City employees or independent contractor employed by the City.”

The notice says cost of abatement is $69 per hour with a $250 administrative fee.

The first time the property was checked was on March 2, according to a supplement attached to the notice. A second visit was done on March 20 and the items were not removed. Another visit was made on April 2 and it appeared some items were removed.

The notice was sent March 5 and no further notes were jotted on the supplement.

On Tuesday Johnson went back to the property to apparently follow-up.

Sources say Johnson never went on Roundtree’s property but stayed on the street conducting his assessment of the progress being made.

Roundtree

Roundtree, in email correspondence with rrspin.com, disputes those claims. “I did not want this. I begged him to leave my property five times.”

Roundtree admitted in the correspondence he was “cursing him (Johnson) like a dog” and continually asked him to get off his property, each time the code enforcement officer getting back in his car.

As Roundtree said he continually cursed at Johnson, “He got out again and when he walked past the city mark where my property starts and the city stops, he looked as if he was going to hit me but didn’t so I told him to leave or, quote, ‘I’m gonna whoop your ass.’ What angered me was he said he was here to follow up on a complaint.”

Roundtree said he was recording the conversation and asked why the city wouldn’t fine or charge him or send one in the mail. “Why come harass me like so many times before?”

Roundtree said he has compiled information over several years about perceived discrimination by the city in matters like this. “How many times do you have to ask a man to leave unless he wants something?”

Roundtree said when the code enforcement officer started to come onto his property he thought about taking trespassing charges out on him, based on the March 5 letter which said an inspection had been done. “He had an arrogant, smart attitude that was provoking enough as it was no respect for the common man.”

Another view of the property.

Roundtree claims either Johnson bumped him or he bumped Johnson. “I thought he was gonna whoop me at first till I gave him the power drive that brought him to his knees. I have pictures of the bruises on my arm where he grabbed me and tore my shirt off. No one wanted to know what happened to me except the chief. I got on top of him and tried to get him to stop trying to punch me in the face so I punched him until he stopped and I called 911.”

Roundtree said it will be up to his attorney on how he pleads, but more than likely it will be not guilty. “It will be up to my attorney but I am ready for the city after I offered them a deal and wrote the facts about them. If they don’t like me I will move. Buy me out. It took them five years of lying to fix the drainage that damaged my yard when I moved in.”