Local police arrest pair for squatting in vacant home

Officers from the Hopkinsville Police Department arrested 41-year-old Renee Joynt and 56-year-old Ellis Rouse both of Hopkinsville for burglary after they were reportedly found inhabiting a vacant home on Monday.

According to a report from police, they received a call regarding a female, later identified as Joynt, pointing a firearm at a residence on 2nd Street. The caller then shared that Joynt then reportedly ran into a house located on 7th Street that was supposed to be vacant.

Officers responded to the house on 7th Street and a male, later identified as Rouse, reportedly said they were not coming outside unless law enforcement had a warrant. Officers were allegedly able to talk Rouse into handing over the weapon Joynt had through the house’s front window and it was identified as a BB Gun.

Officers retrieved a search warrant after contacting the home’s owner who said no one was supposed to be living at the residence. Rouse reportedly exited the home through the front door and was detained, but Joynt hid and had to be located by a K-9 unit.

Inside the home, the report provides details regarding damages to the walls and floor and states that human feces and urine was also present throughout the house.

Both Joynt and Rouse were charged with second-degree burglary, and Joynt was additionally charged with resisting arrest.