Article
Courtesy of nbc6.net Posted
03 - 04 - 2004 MIAMI
-- A condominium owner in Coconut Grove set up a
surveillance camera to catch a vandal, who she says is a member of her condo
board, damaging her home.
Jallele Praschnik has accused South Grove Plaza condo
board member John Losada, 59, of vandalizing her home and car and stalking her.
There was evidence of
vandalism at Praschnik's apartment, and police said it is all because of a
condo dispute.
"I did not have a window. They broke it five
times, so I went months without a window," Praschnik said.
In
addition to her broken window and other vandalism apparent on her car,
Praschnik's surveillance tape shows condo board members inflicting even
more damage on her home.
The
video shows a man police identified as Losada breaking a screen and
tossing a liquid into the kitchen that Praschnik said
was
foul smelling. |
"I
did not have a window. They broke it five times, so I went months
without a window," Praschnik said.
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Another
video shows Losada looking into the apartment and eavesdropping, police said. On
another occasion, a video shows the man ripping out the screen, which police
charge is a form of stalking.
"I
started suspecting, you know, like (they were) doing stuff with our money
that should not be done," the victim said. "As soon as I asked
for the records, that's the day they started the vandalism."
Paul
McKenna, Losada's lawyer, said there are two sides of the story. McKenna
said that Praschnik runs a sewing sweatshop out of her apartment, has
installed illegal screens on her windows and makes lewd remarks about
Losada's sexual preference.
Police
said Losada's actions boil down to stalking and criminal mischief.
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Losada
faces at least one felony charge and possibly a year in jail. His court
date is set for March 15.
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"In
17 years on the job, I have not seen this type of allegation before. There is a
long history here," Sgt. Jim Sayih, of the Miami police, said.
NBC
6 attempted to talk to Losada but another man answered his door and gave no
comment.
State
Rep. Julio Robaina applauds the arrest. Robaina has been a longtime critic of
overzealous condo boards.
"There
is a lot of power on those boards, especially to wheel and deal contracts and
make money under the table," Robaina said.
Praschnick
said she suspected that the condo board had misused money in some way, but no
other resident has stood to protest.
"Nobody
dares. Everybody is afraid of the guy. Nobody dares, except you, except
me," Praschnick said.
McKenna
said his client is not guilty and said he welcomes his day in court, set for
March 15. Losada faces at least one felony charge and possibly a year in jail.
Condominium
ombudsman Virgil Rizzo said he receives about 300 calls and e-mails per week
about condo complaints.
Representatives
from the Department of Business and Professional Regulations said it has
received about 400 complaints since December.
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