HARRIS COUNTY, Texas – What started as a power outage at a North Harris County apartment complex spiraled into something far more alarming, a Harris County deputy was shocked while checking a breaker box, and an expecting couple was locked out of their own apartment without notice.
KPRC 2 News reporter Corley Peel was at the Palms on Rolling Creek Apartments, where Mohammed Nkosi and his pregnant wife have been at the center of a dispute with management that has left them without access to their home and all of their belongings.
Nkosi says the couple was without power for roughly 48 hours starting Friday. He says calls to management were ignored. With a pregnant wife who could not refrigerate her insulin, the couple slept in their car and eventually paid out of pocket for a hotel room.
“From Friday till Sunday, about 48 hours, we were left without power. No air running in the house. Meanwhile, I have a pregnant wife,” Nkosi said. “She couldn’t even refrigerate her insulin,” he added.
Nkosi called 911. When a Harris County deputy arrived Sunday night and attempted to check the breaker box, the deputy was shocked by an electrical current.
KPRC 2 showed up to the apartment complex on Monday, where Corley spoke with a man named Frank on the phone who said he was with management.
“The tenant is not responding to any of our phone calls and text messages. You can’t just be here and report us badly. If it’s the tenant’s fault, he does not want to pay. Do you know the real story? He owes f****** $5,000, ma’am,” said Frank.
Frank said Mohommaed Nkosi and his pregnant wife owe money and are facing eviction. Nksoi said that is not true
“I have all evidence to challenge that to the highest capacity possible that I can challenge it,” said Nkosi.
Nkosi showed us his approved rent payments he sent via Zelle and his bank statements that also showed he paid electric bills on time.
When Nkosi returned to his apartment, he discovered something new, the locks had been changed without any notice.
“You didn’t ask me any consent. You changed the lock to my apartment?” Nkosi confronted management in a recorded conversation.
Management’s response was blunt.
“I don’t have to ask you anything!” the manager identified only as Frank replied.
Frank refused to tell KPRC 2 News why he changed the locks, only saying the couple had not responded to his calls and texts and declined further comment.
“Ma’am, I don’t have anything to provide to you,” Frank said before hanging up.
Nkosi called 911 again after the locks were changed. A deputy took his information, but Nkosi still does not have access to his apartment or any of his and his pregnant wife’s belongings inside.
“We don’t even have access to our apartment and all our belongings are in there. We have paid our rent. We have done every single thing that we have to do on our end. I just want to know why?” Nkosi said.
The couple plans to pursue legal action.