Wynnfield HOA Leadership Accused of Submitting False Reports and Harassment Over Vehicle Parking Dispute
Recently obtained documents from the City of Mobile Municipal Court, released as part of a criminal discovery process, reveal concerning actions taken by Wynnfield HOA President Chuck Thuss and Director Michael Hites. The documents suggest that both individuals knowingly submitted false reports to the Mobile Police Department, claiming that a legally parked vehicle was violating city ordinances by blocking a driveway.
The Allegations
The incident began when Thuss and Hites reported a vehicle parked on a residential street within the Wynnfield neighborhood to the City of Mobile and the Mobile Police Department. They alleged that the vehicle was both illegally parked on the street and obstructing a driveway. However, court documents later disproved these claims:
- The vehicle, according to the municipal code, was measured and found to be under 10 feet long, making it compliant with zoning regulations for residential areas.
- The truck was parked in front of the homeowner’s own property, not obstructing any driveway as alleged by the HOA officials.
- Further, none of the immediate neighbors—neither those across the street nor those adjacent to the home—submitted complaints to the City regarding the vehicle.
Despite these facts, HOA President Thuss and Director Hites allegedly continued to pressure local authorities to take action.
Attempts to “Peer Pressure” the Homeowner
In addition to filing the false police report, Michael Hites reportedly took photos of the vehicle and posted them on Facebook in an apparent attempt to “peer pressure” the vehicle owner into moving it. This action sparked significant backlash from community members, who criticized the tactics as unnecessary and harassing.
One resident, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated: “There’s no excuse for this kind of behavior from HOA leadership. It’s one thing to address real violations, but it’s completely different when false reports are filed and neighbors are targeted publicly.”
Continued Pressure on City Officials
The court documents also reveal that Thuss and Hites allegedly harassed a City of Mobile Councilwoman for several months, persistently demanding that the police take action against the homeowner. These efforts were reportedly based on the initial false claims about the vehicle’s size and location, even after the information had been disproven.
A city official familiar with the matter noted: “This type of pressure on public officials is not only inappropriate but detracts from more pressing issues in the community. The fact that the claims were later proven false makes it even more concerning.”
The Impact on the Community
The incident has left many residents of Wynnfield questioning the integrity and priorities of their HOA leadership. Some homeowners have expressed frustration that the board’s resources and attention were spent on what appears to be a personal vendetta rather than on addressing broader neighborhood concerns.
One neighbor remarked: “This is not how an HOA should operate. We need leaders who focus on improving the community, not leaders who target specific residents and misuse their authority.”
Another resident questioned the transparency of the board, saying: “If this is how they’re handling minor disputes, what else might be going on behind the scenes that we don’t know about?”
The Legal Context
Under the City of Mobile’s municipal code, vehicles in residential zones cannot exceed 10 feet in length when parked on the street. However, the vehicle in question was later confirmed to be within the legal length limit. Moreover, the absence of complaints from immediate neighbors underscores the lack of legitimate grounds for the HOA’s actions.
Filing false reports to law enforcement is a serious offense and can have legal repercussions. While the court documents do not specify whether charges will be filed against Thuss and Hites, their actions have already drawn significant scrutiny and criticism.
What’s Next for Wynnfield?
This incident adds to the growing dissatisfaction among Wynnfield residents regarding HOA leadership. Calls for reform have increased in recent months, particularly following other controversies surrounding transparency, governance, and communication within the association.
One resident summarized the community’s sentiment: “The HOA is supposed to serve the neighborhood, not create unnecessary drama. It’s time for new leadership that prioritizes fairness, transparency, and actual community needs.”
For now, the Wynnfield HOA faces mounting questions about its leadership’s actions, the ethical implications of filing false reports, and the potential misuse of authority in targeting individual residents. Whether this will lead to broader changes in the association’s governance remains to be seen.
City of Mobile Report