Tenant billed by Ottawa Community Housing for bloody clean-up

After seeing the aftermath of a machete attack on his friend, Roy Hobbs wasthreatened with eviction and billed for the costofcleaning up blood by his landlord, Ottawa Community Housing.

On May 14, Hobbs says he let some acquaintances into his apartment. A short time later, afemale friend was attacked inside his apartment thenstumbled out into the hallway and elevator, leaving behinda bloody trail in the hallway of thesocial housing residential tower near Britannia Park.

The woman, whom CBC News isidentifying only as "J" to protect her privacy,washospitalized and required 11 surgical staples to close the wound at the top of her head, Hobbs says.

There was blood on the walls, in the hallway, in the bathroom.Roy Hobbs, Regina Street resident

He's been reeling with guilt since theincident.

"It's been extremely taxing, my anxiety is really high.I failed to protect my friend," he says.

Hobbs, who is 62 years old, says he's a quiet man who spends most of his time painting inside his apartment, but on the night of the incident he let three other peopleinto his apartment who knew "J."

He was in another room getting cigarettes when he heard sounds of a heated argument, he says.Hedidn't see his friend being struck, but saw the aftermath.

"There was blood on the walls, in the hallway, in the bathroom. It was just a lot of blood from a head wound in the middle of her forehead," Hobbs says.

Machete attack suspect charged with murder in separate case

Police were able to track down the machete-wieldingsuspect afterthe May 14 incident and laidcharges of assault causing bodily harm, assault with a weapon and carrying a concealed a weapon against34-year-old Daniel Adjetey-Nelson.

Adjetey-Nelson is the same manrecentlycharged with first-degree murder in the stabbing death of his ex-girlfriend's fatherwhile he was out on bail.

Prior to his arrest in the homicide case, Adjetey-Nelsonlived in the same building as Hobbs at 2651 Regina St.

Hobbs says he has been co-operating with police anddoesn't understand why Ottawa Community Housing wouldpunishhim for a crime he didn't commit. Two days after the attack, aneviction letter and bill for washing the blood off the hallwaywalls and elevator wasslipped under his door.

The OCH document, shown to CBC News by Hobbs,stated: "Your guest 'J' was hit in the head with what 'J' described to be a machete, causing her to bleed in your unit and in the common area ...the cost to clean up the blood in the common area is $391.09."

"Why are you charging me for the clean-up?It's like a slap in the face ... The [alleged] perpetrator, he lives in the building, too,"Hobbs says.

Held responsible for actions of his guests

OCH'slawyer told him he was being held responsible for the actions of his guests, and there was concern he was putting other tenants at risk, Hobbs says.

But he believes he's being treated unfairlyand wonders if OCH sentAdjetey-Nelson an eviction letter as well.

Under the Residential Tenancies Act, OCH can terminate a rental agreement if the tenant causessubstantial disturbances, commits illegal acts such as drug trafficking, misrepresents their income, damages property orif there is serious riskof safety where the tenant lives.

Several tenantstold CBC Newsthey were afraid of Adjetey-Nelson,and that hewasdealing drugs.Police sources told CBChe wasa known gang member.

DouglasBaum,Adjetey-Nelson'sdefence lawyer,sayshis client was required to live at 2651 Regina St.after securing bail because his neighbour was his surety. Baumsaid Adjetey-Nelson lived byhimself and never mentioned to him that he had any problems with his landlord.

The trial forAdjetey-Nelsonon charges stemming from themachete attack isset for next June, while court proceedings on the homicide have just started.Baumsays it's unlikely his client will get bail againnowthat he's facing a charge of first-degree murder.

More than 20,000calls to OCH safety hotline so far this year

Ottawa Community Housing, citing privacyconcerns, would not say if theystarted eviction proceedings against Adjetey-Nelson.

But speaking in general terms, CEOStphane Gigure says if Ottawa police make a recommendation that someone be removed from public housing because of safety risks, they can act quickly, but the majority of the timeevictions are an "elaborate process" which require hearings and testimony from witnesses.

"It's one thing to make a call, but it's also very important to follow through and provide us with the evidence and provide Ottawa police with evidence," he says.

OCH oversees 15,000 apartments in the city and sofar this year there have been more than 22,200 calls to its safetyhotline.The calls range from parking complaints to noise infractions to suspicious activity.Gigure says about one per centof complaints result in evictions.

As for Hobbs, he decided to fight his eviction and cleaning bill in front of the OntarioLandlord Tenancy Board.With the assistance of a legal aid representative he staved off eviction andcut the cleaning bill by half, but must pay the full $170 fee that's required when filing acomplaint with the board.