Two property managers accused of stealing tornado relief supplies meant for an Ooltewah mobile home park are now facing a $4 million lawsuit accusing them of turning away help in order to hide health code violations and charging residents for non-existent homeowner’s insurance.
Kimberly West, 49, and Steven West, 64, were arrested in late April and charged with theft and conspiracy to commit theft after Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office detectives seized more than $60,000 in relief items meant for the residents of the park who were affected by a deadly EF3 tornado that tore through late on Easter Sunday.
Kimberly West was arrested again the following week and charged with two counts of coercion of a witness after allegedly asking residents to sign a document stating that the Wests had provided them with aid after the storm.
Kimberly West, 49, told the Times Free Press on Friday that the two were unaware of the lawsuit or any health code violations, and declined to comment otherwise.
Since the storms hit, the Times Free Press has obtained rental documents and spoken to 15 current and former residents of the park who shared accounts of having been manipulated by property managers who threatened deportation and eviction if they didn’t pay certain fees and sign questionable documents.