“I myself drove by Huber Road and drove the cul-de-sac a couple of times,” Starline said. “I have seen nothing myself indicating there’s an encampment back there.”
Starline said he’s received complaints from residents about the problems in Ward 3, which includes stretches of the eastern side of Ohio 202, including Merily Way and Huber Road.
WHIO-TV tracked down the location reported by Starline in the wooded area between Merily Way and Huber Road, off Ohio 202. On Wednesday morning, the station found two crude campfire sites and charred wood. Nearby, at least 10 stray cats approached the TV station’s crew.
Starline asked Huber Heights Police Chief Mark Lightner whether there have been trespassing issues with people in the area. So far, the police have only substantiated the feral cat issue.
“We have not come up with any indication that homeless people are living back there, or staying back there, or doing anything back there,” said Huber Heights Police Sgt. Charles Taylor. “We have, on the feral cat issue, had officers speak with management at Cadillac Jack’s and addressed that issue with them.”
Jennifer Allen, a manager at Cadillac Jack’s restaurant, said the management asked a couple who frequently entered the restaurant property while feeding cats to stop.
“It’s a little bit of an issue,” Allen said of the cats. “The couple said originally they were trying to capture the cats and release them, but that hasn’t been what we’ve seen.”
Starline says he encourages residents to avoid feeding the animals.
“It just encourages the feral cats to keep coming around,” he said.
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