Health officials step in after Cleveland man says he is ‘living next to a jungle’

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - Cleveland Health Department officials have started looking into an abandoned home on the city’s West side after calls from the 19 News Troubleshooter Team.

“No one seems to be doing anything about it, so I called 19 news to see if you could help,” said neighbor Charles Patton.

For the past two years, Patton has watched his neighbor’s yard on Zimmer Avenue turn into a jungle.

The grass has turned into weeds, some standing almost five feet tall, said Patton.

Patton added there are also mattresses and tires scattered in the backyard, creating the perfect place for animals to hide.

“Sometimes I’ll be eating, and they’ll run right across so, of course, I lose my appetite,” said Patton.

Patton said a city worker did come inspect the yard in September, but nobody cleaned the mess.

On Tuesday the Health Department told 19 News there wasn’t a complaint in their system for that address, but one will be filed by the end of the day.

They told 19 News that neighbors can expect a health investigator to come out to the property within the next week,

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