A Florida woman has spoken out after being arrested for allegedly violating the rules of her local homeowner’s association (HOA).
Irena Green was arrested on May 23 after The Trowbridge Company Inc. filed a lawsuit alleging that the homeowner violated community appearance rules, according to ABC Action News.
The Hillsborough County-based HOA management company claimed that Green had “browning grass” on her lawn, a dirty mailbox, and a commercial van, among other minor violations, which the woman was ordered to correct.
“The grass has started to brown. “So they began sending notes,” Green told ABC Action News. “And it went from the grass being brown to there’s a dent in my garage.”
Green claimed that after the lawsuit was filed, a judge gave her 30 days to clean up her lawn and correct the violations or face jail time.
I sold my van to comply. My mailbox was cleaned to comply. I purchased seeds and watered my grass to comply,” she told ABC Action News.
Despite her efforts to resolve the issue, Green was arrested after failing to appear for her next court date in August 2024, according to reports.
“I was supposed to receive documents. Nothing was delivered to my home. And I contacted the courthouse several times to inquire about my court date,” she explained.
ABC Action News reports that Green was pulled over and arrested on May 23 while picking up her 15-year-old daughter from cheerleading practice.
“There was no bond.” “So I couldn’t even go home to see my family,” she told the outlet. “I sat in there for seven days in the jailhouse like a criminal.”
According to jail records obtained by PEOPLE, Green faced two charges: contempt of court and failure to comply with a court order to show cause.
Green was released from jail after her family presented evidence that she had cleaned up her yard to a different judge than the one who issued the arrest warrant, according to ABC Action News.
“It makes me feel horrible. I work hard to buy this home for me and my kids in a better neighborhood and environment, and to be taken to jail and to be treated like that for brown grass at my own home … that’s horrible,” she said.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and The Trowbridge Company Inc. did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment on Saturday, Aug. 2.
