Skip to main content
Tuesday, November 10, 2026Nov 10
Subscribe
All Sections
Search
More

Deputies evict one Church of Urth occupant; the other no-showed [photos]

Tyler Short places a guitar on top of a pile of his belongings outside Mercy Junction Justice and Peace Center in Highland Park after his eviction on Friday, June 16, 2017, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Short is one of two occupants who rented space in the building and started the Church of Urth who were evicted after threatening behavior which resulted in the shutdown the center's ministries for more than a month.
Tyler Short places a guitar on top of a pile of his belongings outside Mercy Junction Justice and Peace Center in Highland Park after his eviction on Friday, June 16, 2017, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Short is one of two occupants who rented space in the building and started the Church of Urth who were evicted after threatening behavior which resulted in the shutdown the center's ministries for more than a month. Tyler Short places a guitar on top of a pile of his belongings outside Mercy Junction Justice and Peace Center in Highland Park after his eviction on Friday, June 16, 2017, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Short is one of two occupants who rented space in the building and started the Church of Urth who were evicted after threatening behavior which resulted in the shutdown the center's ministries for more than a month.

By Zack Peterson 4 min read

Deputies peacefully evicted the Church of Urth from Mercy Junction Justice and Peace Center today.

Tyler Short left the property around 3:30 p.m. His co-founder, Ryan Holmes, did not appear to be there all day.

Short addressed reporters Friday while volunteers began to haul black bags, old dressers and big, bulky mattresses out of a Highland Park community center he refused to leave for a month.

“I knew (the deputies) were coming,” Short said. “What they have said is because I’m associated with Ryan Holmes they’re going to evict me, and if I don’t like that, I have to go through civil court. So that may be where this ends up.”

Problem is, Short already had his chance in court, and he never showed up. As a result, Mercy Junction Peace and Justice Center was able to resolve a month-long eviction process Friday afternoon after three Hamilton County deputies escorted Short out of the Union Avenue building.