Rats, Sewage Overflow At Mansfield Property Lead To Felony Charge

MANSFIELD, CT — A woman now living in Farmington is facing a felony charge for a long list of transgressions at a Section 8 property in Mansfield that include causing a rat infestation and flushing about 100 sand-filled rubber gloves into a septic system.

The investigation into the actions of 36-year-old Latasha White began on Sept. 2 and culminated with state police serving her a warrant on Friday. She has been charged first-degree damage to property, a Class D felony in Connecticut.

According to a warrant issued at Rockville Superior Court, the owner of a duplex on Buckingham Road that rents both units out to Section 8 clients contacted state police about "many issues" created by a tenant who had been living there since 2019 — White.

The complaint was registered the same day White moved out and two months after the owner spent $3,000 to take care of a rat infestation created by large piles of household trash left at a greenhouse behind the residence, according to a warrant.

Upon inspecting the unit, the owner of the property discovered trashed kitchen cabinets and a bathroom vanity that had been torn off a wall, according to a warrant. There were also traces of vomit and urine in bedrooms, according to a warrant. Hardwood floors throughout the house had to be refinishes and repaired, according to a warrant.

The landlord then followed a stench that led to the discovery of a septic backup and overflow in the basement, caused by about 100 sand-filled rubber gloves being flushed, according to a warrant. The landlord managed to unclog the system with a friend's "industrial-sized snake," but the estimate to get the gloves out of there was about $800, according to a warrant.

The property owner said the damage exceeded the security deposit but also realized is was not "feasible" to attempt to get the money back and wanted to press charges, according to a warrant.