Residents of the north-side Pulpit Rock neighborhood are puzzled, frustrated and angry.

In recent months they have campaigned to get Colorado Springs code enforcement officers to do something about neighbor Greg Heskin, an electrician who bought a modest split-level house in 2009 at Dublin Boulevard and Brittany Circle.

It’s so bad one family has moved and others are packing in hopes of selling and moving. They spoke only if their names were not used because they fear Heskin, who shouts obscenities when he sees them and who posted a large sign on his house showing a handgun with the words: “Never mind the dog – Beware of owner!”

At first, neighbors say Heskin was a friendly guy who did electrical jobs for them. Around 2010, everything changed.

They noticed broken-down cars piling up in his yard along with trailers and other junk. Then came a collection of Saint Bernard dogs – they counted nine.

Next they reported late-night car repair sessions, with loud engines revving well past midnight.

Finally, they saw him outside late at night, driving a small bulldozer, destroying his yard. Then he hauled in huge telephone poles about 8 feet tall that he erected where his fence once stood. He told neighbors he planned a tall fence to shield his house.

When someone circulated a flier urging neighbors to call the city, witnesses say Heskin became enraged, roaring up the street on his motorcycle, doing loud “burnouts” in front of the home of the family he suspected of circulating the flier. The loud display ended when he wrecked and an ambulance had to be called for him.

Lt. Catherine Buckley of Colorado Springs police says officers have responded to 12 code violation cases at Heskin’s house since May 2010. There is an open case against him that dates to January 2014 and has involved 25 visits by a code enforcement officer.

Gretchen Pressley of the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region said her agency conducted an investigation that led to four Saint Bernard puppies being removed by animal welfare officers Dec. 31. On Jan. 6, Heskin was issued a summons charging him with four counts of misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals.

And the legal problems are escalating for Heskin, who did not answer the door recently and whose phone rings unanswered.

Lee Richards, spokeswoman for the 4th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, said Heskin failed to appear for his Feb. 2 court appearance on the cruelty charges and was arrested Feb. 14.

He is scheduled for a pretrial hearing May 8 and a jury trial on May 12.

Meanwhile, Heskin has twice failed to appear on a summons issued by code enforcement officers for “improper accumulation of unlicensed and inoperable vehicles,” said Tom Wasinger, code enforcement administrator.

A municipal judge issued a warrant for his arrest and he forfeited $1,500 in bond, Wasinger said.

When the case eventually goes to trial and if he’s found guilty, Heskin could face 189 days in jail and a $2,500 fine, Wasinger said.

Now Heskin has another deadline looming.

Wasinger visited Heskin again March 9 and reissued a notice and order giving him 10 days to remove the junk on his property. If he fails to, Heskin will face more court action and the forcible removal by the city of the cars at his expense.

“He came out and talked to me,” Wasinger said. “He was flippant. I don’t think he fully understands the magnitude of this. His anger is against his neighbors. He thinks they are out to get him.”

But Wasinger said it’s not unreasonable for neighbors to complain about his yard.

“It looks like a junkyard,” he said.

If the junk and cars aren’t gone next week, Wasinger plans to seek a warrant to allow the city to remove the violations.

“The neighborhood is suffering,” he said. “We have to act.”

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