University of Virginia Library

U. Heights Evicts Tenants
After Roanoke Drug Case

By LOU GRANT

Two students at the
Jefferson Professional Institute
have been evicted from their
apartment in University
Heights allegedly due to a
recent drug arrest.

Danita Block and Taber
Phillips were evicted Friday.
Miss Block claims the eviction
stems from her arrest in
Roanoke on drug charges. She
says University Heights is
afraid of bad publicity. Miss
Block was arrested after
Roanoke Police found her
knapsack in a motel room in
which several kinds of illegal
drugs had been found. No
drugs were found in her
knapsack.

Miss Phillips, who lived with
Miss Block, was not arrested
but was evicted with Miss
Block "with no notice
whatsoever." Miss Phillips said
the drug arrest was "something
I had nothing to do with."

Miss Phillips said she
returned to her apartment and
found all her possessions
packed and locked up. Miss
Block said University Heights
refused to give her her work
uniform. Miss Phillips said she
was given her checkbook from
her apartment.

A friend of both Miss
Phillips and Miss Block said he
inquired at the apartment
complex's office but was
coldly received. "They told me
I could get out or get my ass to
court," he reported.

A spokesman for the
apartment complex admitted
the eviction. She said the
evicted tenants had been
allowed into the apartments
but were unable to carry their
possessions from the
apartment.

The spokesman also said
that an investigation was being
conducted by University
Heights but declined further
comment. She said the owner
was "out of town" and
therefore unable to be reached
for comment.

University Students'
Attorney Edward H. Hogshire
said his understanding of the
law was that tenants were to be
given at least five days notice
prior to eviction. He said
however that he would have to
analyze the lease and the
circumstance before he made
further comment.

He did say he felt the two
students should contact a
lawyer and regretted he could
not help them since they do
not attend the University.

A copy of the lease is being
sought for Mr. Hogshire so he
can determine the legality of
the eviction.