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Narrator/Host
What if a marginal gain unlocked greater performance? What if an insight in data could change everything?
Mark Davidson
At Aramco, our focus on detail helps
Narrator/Host
us deliver reliable energy to millions across the world. Because margins aren't marginal, they're where we
Mark Davidson
can truly push the limits of what's possible.
Narrator/Host
Aramco, an integrated energy and chemicals company.
Mark Davidson
Learn more@aramco.com
Narrator/Host
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James David Dixon (Reporter)
Hey, sweetie. Your mother showed me this Carvana thing for selling the car. I'm gonna give it a try.
Henry Sharg (Attorney)
Wish me luck.
James David Dixon (Reporter)
Me again. I put in the license plate. It gave me an offer. Unbelievable. Okay, I accepted the offer. They're picking it up Tuesday from the driveway. I haven't even left my chair. It's done. The car is gone. I'm holding a check anyway. Carvana.
Charles Montgomery
Give it a whirl. Love ya.
Commercial Voice
So good you'll want to leave a voicemail about it.
Narrator/Storyteller
Sell your car today on Carvana.
Commercial Voice
Pick up fees may apply.
Narrator/Storyteller
Most violent crimes that capture the public's imagination are about serial killers, mass shooters, or crimes of passion. Yet some of the most shocking conflicts we encounter are between everyday neighbors and ordinary neighborhoods. What makes a good neighbor go bad? We may never truly know, but heed this warning about the terrible things that can happen when even the pettiest disagreements pass the point of no return. Today we're in the heart of the Motor City with two neighbors who at first seem destined to hit it off. But when a career opportunity sees one neighbor close up his home and leave the state, the other seizes the opportunity to set up a new space for his shop. The stage is set for a property takeover that, once the homeowner returns, will Backfire and lead to deadly consequence. This is fear thy neighbor. I'm not moving. Detroit's up and coming Five Points neighborhood sits at an important cultural crossroads just one block south of the legendary eight Mile Road. Here's attorney Henry Sharg to explain.
Henry Sharg (Attorney)
It's a changing neighborhood. It was at one time it was a white bastion. It's a diverse neighborhood.
James David Dixon (Reporter)
It's a proud neighborhood. People keep things up and, you know, it's their little piece of the city.
Narrator/Storyteller
That last voice was local reporter James David Dixon. And it's a sentiment echoed by many, like Tanisha Lintes, a resident on the street where our story unfolds.
Tanisha Lintes (Neighbor)
It was a quiet neighborhood, had a nice park around the corner, you know, for my kids.
Narrator/Storyteller
It's an ideal setting for mechanic Mark Davidson while he spends the day running an auto body shop nearby. He enjoys the evening tranquility of the street. And best of all, his neighbors offer companionship and a real sense of community.
Tanisha Lintes (Neighbor)
Mark was one of the first people that I met and befriended when I moved over there. He was a good guy.
Henry Sharg (Attorney)
If his neighbors were in need of auto repair or their lawn cut or a few dollars or any type of other services in the neighborhood, Mark was the go to guy.
Narrator/Storyteller
Mark has split custody of his two sons, Craig and Martin. While it's hard to raise two young boys as a single father and work full time, he gets by okay. And no small part of that is because he lives on the type of street where neighbors look out for each other.
Tanisha Lintes (Neighbor)
I think you just saved me 600 bucks.
Mark Davidson
Take the boys to school and we'll call it even.
Tanisha Lintes (Neighbor)
You got a deal. He was a single father. It was a struggle, but as a dad, you could see that he was stern and he had a good heart.
Mark Davidson
Let me go get him.
Tanisha Lintes (Neighbor)
He was a big guy, but he didn't want drama, you know?
Narrator/Storyteller
Another major perk of the neighborhood is that Mark's sons have their own secret playground right next door. Adjacent to their backyard is a sprawling empty lot. It's city owned and has so far managed to stay untouched by developers.
James David Dixon (Reporter)
So the side lot is pretty common in Detroit. Either a home was torn down or there was never a home built for whatever reason.
Narrator/Storyteller
One day when Mark's with his kids in the lot, they're joined by two girls roughly his boy's age along with their father.
Mark Davidson
Hi. Who are you?
Narrator/Host
Your new neighbors, Charles.
Mark Davidson
Mark.
Narrator/Storyteller
Charles Montgomery, also known as Chaz, has just bought the house next door with his girlfriend Carrie. As Charles explains, the new abode offers a promising new beginning for his young family.
Charles Montgomery
It was a great stepping stone for me and my family. It was a three bedroom home, Pretty good area. I wondered what you kids got up to.
Commercial Voice
Hi, I'm Carrie. I see our kids already met.
Charles Montgomery
I love the house. And when I did meet Mark, he seemed real friendly.
Narrator/Storyteller
Charles is an insurance agent, but his true passion is music. Carrie looks after their daughters, Linda and Anna. The couple have moved from the suburbs to be closer to Charles family, and so far they're quite taken by their new digs.
Narrator/Host
But this is cool though, eh?
Mark Davidson
Yeah, yeah.
James David Dixon (Reporter)
It's like an extra backyard.
Narrator/Storyteller
As neighbor Tanisha explains, the two households become fast friends.
Tanisha Lintes (Neighbor)
The kids, they would play outside and stuff. They became friends.
Charles Montgomery
Mark's kids were always great. They came over, played, and sometimes would ask if my kids would come outside and play. We're happy, we're ecstatic. We're meeting the neighbors, we're thinking, everybody's very good.
Commercial Voice
Seems like a really nice family.
Mark Davidson
Yes, the kids get along great.
Tanisha Lintes (Neighbor)
Yeah, it looked like, you know, everything was like, you know, neighborly and, you know, it was peaceful.
Narrator/Storyteller
But the copacetic flow of the street doesn't last long. In the summer of 2016, one year after moving into his new home, Charles, life is turned upside down when he's offered his dream job in Los Angeles.
Charles Montgomery
I get a call out the blue and they're asking me to come to California. I've been in music, you know, since I was a little kid playing in church. And at this point, I had already worked with proof, Eminem, D12. I mean, we worked with some big artists. Of course, you know, my girl was happy because she already knew how much I cared about music. She told me, go, you know, go.
Narrator/Storyteller
While Charles chases his dreams in Tinseltown, Carrie remains in Detroit to be near her family. Left on her own with the children, she soon finds the upkeep of the yard and house too much to manage alone. So she eventually takes the girls to live with her mom.
Charles Montgomery
Let's go, my darlings.
Narrator/Storyteller
With plans to check on the house from time to time. Next door, Mark faces his own struggles. His auto body shop has run into trouble over a zoning issue, and the city has shut it down.
Tanisha Lintes (Neighbor)
I think that was like real stressful for Mark to have to go through, you know, something that he's trying the way to provide for his children.
Narrator/Storyteller
Mark needs a new place to ply his trade. And the solution seems to be right under his nose. Charles Montgomery's now empty property. Now that Charles is flush with career success, Mark wonders if maybe he'll never return from la. And so he makes a fateful decision. Here's reporter James Dixon to explain.
James David Dixon (Reporter)
He sees this neighbor leave town. All right, let's make the most of it. Let's make the most out of this property.
Narrator/Storyteller
Mark has found the perfect spot to revive his business. As long as no one's living there. But 18 months after taking over both Charles Yard and the empty lot between their two houses, Mark's plan is about to go up in flames because Charles is on his way home for good.
Charles Montgomery
Feels good to be back, eh, California. It was a fun time, but in the back of my mind, I still have this house. And as much as I love my music career, my family comes first. My girlfriend told me I needed to come back. There's a lot of stuff going on that needs my immediate attention with my family.
Narrator/Storyteller
Charles plans to step back into his insurance job and his house just the way he left it. But he's about to find out there's an ugly surprise waiting for him.
Charles Montgomery
Oh, my God. I was not prepared for what I walked into. My complete driveway is blocked. There's garbage, debris, TVs, furnaces, hot water tanks.
Narrator/Host
What's happened here?
Charles Montgomery
The privacy fence that was once there is completely removed. There's pallets in the. In my backyard. There were cars, stoves, refrigerators, tools.
Narrator/Host
I thought you were checking on this place.
Charles Montgomery
I was. It didn't look like this the last time I was here. I just couldn't believe the transition that my property had taken. The entire exterior of the house, you know, in a matter of months had went to, you know, for lack of a better expression, it went to hell.
Narrator/Storyteller
Charles believes there's only one person in the neighborhood who could be responsible.
Mark Davidson
Hey, you're back.
Charles Montgomery
Mike, what is exactly going on here?
Mark Davidson
I can explain. Uh huh. I lost my shop. I don't have anywhere else to go.
Charles Montgomery
He essentially said, I thought you weren't coming back. I thought the house was abandoned. I took it over.
Narrator/Storyteller
Tanisha Lintes defends her friend Mark's actions.
Tanisha Lintes (Neighbor)
The situation with Mark being a single father, it got hard. He had to do what he had to do to provide for his children.
Mark Davidson
I honestly didn't think he'd be back.
James David Dixon (Reporter)
That's not my problem.
Narrator/Storyteller
But Charles is irate at the gall of his neighbor.
Charles Montgomery
I'm excessively shocked at this point. You know, at this point, you know, just get your stuff out, you know, clear out my driveway so I can get my car.
Mark Davidson
Look, I'm sorry. I'll clean it up.
Charles Montgomery
It looked like a junkyard. You Tell me it's going to take him a little while to do anything.
James David Dixon (Reporter)
All right, you've got one week.
Narrator/Storyteller
While Mark Davidson gets to work cleaning out the mountain of debris from Charles property, Charles and Carrie go to stay with family.
Tanisha Lintes (Neighbor)
I think that was, like, real stressful for Mark trying to deal with, you know, a neighbor that just seemed like he just got it out for you.
Narrator/Storyteller
When Charles returns days later to check on Mark's progress, he sees very little.
Narrator/Host
It took you a week to move
Charles Montgomery
a television leave, come back a third time like this is ridiculous.
Mark Davidson
I need a little bit more time.
Narrator/Storyteller
As reporter James David Dixon notes, the slow progress begins to take a real toll on the once close neighbors.
James David Dixon (Reporter)
When days become weeks, that's not really a quick time frame. It builds the tension between two people
Tanisha Lintes (Neighbor)
for you to keep hounding like you was just being unreasonable due to the circumstances that it's impossible for Mark to be able to just move the cars and things like that.
Narrator/Storyteller
Finally, a few weeks after Charles returns home, Mark contacts him to let him know the job is done.
Charles Montgomery
I'm thinking, okay, now I can finally start, you know, moving forward with my plans.
Narrator/Storyteller
The family drives up to their home and the newly immaculate front yard.
Commercial Voice
Look, we're here.
Charles Montgomery
We are home.
Tanisha Lintes (Neighbor)
Yay.
Narrator/Storyteller
But it turns out Mark isn't telling the entire story about his cleanup. And Charles is about to find out Mark's latest infraction.
Commercial Voice
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Narrator/Host
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Charles Montgomery
Mom, can you tell Me a story?
Commercial Voice
Sure.
Narrator/Storyteller
Once upon a time, a mom needed a new car. Was she brave? She was tired mostly. But she went to Carvana.com and found
Commercial Voice
a great car at a great price.
Narrator/Storyteller
No secret treasure map required.
Charles Montgomery
Did you have to fight a dragon?
Narrator/Storyteller
Nope. She bought it 100% online from her bed, actually.
Charles Montgomery
Was it scary?
Narrator/Storyteller
Honey, it was as unscary as car buying could be.
Charles Montgomery
Did the car have a sunroof?
Narrator/Storyteller
It did, actually.
Commercial Voice
Okay, good story.
Narrator/Storyteller
Car buying. You'll want to tell stories about.
Commercial Voice
Buy your car today on Carvana.
Narrator/Storyteller
Delivery fees may apply.
Commercial Voice
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Narrator/Storyteller
When Charles and his family walk through the rest of their property, they're horrified by what they see.
Charles Montgomery
Oh, my gosh.
James David Dixon (Reporter)
Unbelievable.
Narrator/Storyteller
Mark has only cleared the front of the property. Attorney Henry Sharg and reporter James Dixon
Henry Sharg (Attorney)
explain the vacant lot. And the backyard was still littered with wooden pallets with all types of garbage.
James David Dixon (Reporter)
So Chaz is able to move back in, but he's not able to use his own backyard.
Narrator/Storyteller
And that's not the only issue lingering on the property. The other is Mark's two pit bulls charging up on Charles family.
Charles Montgomery
Go, go, go, go. One dog was, you know, 80 something plus pounds. The dog doesn't just stop at my door. He comes, paws and hid in my window.
Henry Sharg (Attorney)
The dogs would be roaming outside, unleashed, and were barking and growling.
Charles Montgomery
And I'm just thinking, like, what am I supposed to do from here?
James David Dixon (Reporter)
So not only do you have the junk, now you have these dogs to deal with. For a person who moved back for family reasons, that's not the best circumstance.
Charles Montgomery
Mark, What? What's the problem?
Mark Davidson
Dogs are harmless. All the kids around there love them.
Narrator/Storyteller
Even Mark's friend and neighbor Tanisha Lintes agrees. The dogs have been scaring them neighborhood.
Tanisha Lintes (Neighbor)
You know, just how pit boys do, you know, somebody walk past something, you know, they bark, run back and forth. But yeah, I wouldn't mess with them. And I was not comfortable with my kids being out with them dogs.
Mark Davidson
Have your girls come over and play with them sometime.
Narrator/Host
My kids can play with your kids. When your junkyard is cleaned up and your so called pets are fenced in.
Charles Montgomery
Now, this is an environment where they cannot play in the backyard. It's becoming a very dangerous situation.
Narrator/Storyteller
The rift between the two neighboring men has been tearing the two families apart. And there's no escaping it. Even in bed after a hard day's work, there's no relief from the torment next door. What is that sound?
Charles Montgomery
Early on, I had no idea what was going on next door. You know, I'm thinking he's renovating. The only thing I know is that I'm losing sleep.
Narrator/Storyteller
The way Charles sees it, it's just another thing he has to deal with. So he attempts to find some middle ground.
Narrator/Host
Can you please keep your renovations to business hours?
Mark Davidson
It's just my shop. Some guys prefer the night shift, okay?
Charles Montgomery
That doesn't work for my family.
Narrator/Storyteller
But Mark isn't having any of it and instead offers a solution he thinks will solve things for everyone.
Mark Davidson
Let me make you a deal. Let me make you an offer.
Charles Montgomery
He eventually says, you know, you should just sell me the house for $1,000.
Narrator/Host
Is that a joke?
Charles Montgomery
You want me to sell you a house? Where? When the comps in this neighborhood are around 50,000 and we sell it to you for $1,000, I'll pay you cash.
Mark Davidson
Look, private sale, no agent, no commission.
Charles Montgomery
And of course, I declined.
Mark Davidson
Maybe I'll go to five.
James David Dixon (Reporter)
When someone offers you $5,000 for a home that's not for sale, that you occupy and that you've never said you don't want, maybe they're not actually asking.
Narrator/Host
After profiting off my land for months, you should be paying me back rent, not making some low ball offer.
Henry Sharg (Attorney)
Six.
Mark Davidson
I can do six.
James David Dixon (Reporter)
Come on.
Narrator/Host
What are you high?
James David Dixon (Reporter)
Come on.
Mark Davidson
You don't see a good deal when you can take it. Come on, you're just gonna walk away like that?
Charles Montgomery
I essentially told him, I'm not a crackhead. After a while, I just never allow my kids outside anymore.
Tanisha Lintes (Neighbor)
You keep poking the bear, you know you gonna wake the bear up.
Narrator/Storyteller
There's so much friction between neighbors Mark Davidson and Charles Montgomery. Everything begins to feel like a thread.
Charles Montgomery
So one day, just like I normally would, I try to get on the Internet and nothing. I look outside and the line has been clipped. You know, at this point, I'm getting very nervous.
Narrator/Storyteller
Charles calls the Internet company, but the repairman needs safe access to the side of the house.
Charles Montgomery
I tell Mark via text message, I need you to, you know, put your dogs up. I tell them the time that they gave me for the appointment, and I just leave it at that, you know? He never responds, never does anything. So I'm assuming that everything's good. He's gonna put his dogs up. I walk out into the backyard. There's no dogs. I'm thinking, everything's good.
Narrator/Storyteller
But the space between houses is still piled high with Mark's debris. And working in this giant mess won't be an easy job for the worker who shows up.
Charles Montgomery
At first, he said, I'm not doing it. I essentially begged the guy, like, man, please. He eventually says, yes. He climbs up the pallets and then starts climbing up the pole. I turn around, go in the house, and about 10 minutes later, I hear screaming, help. Somebody help. It's like, man, what the hell? What the fuck?
Narrator/Storyteller
Charles rushes outside to see the repairman standing atop a pile of Mark's stacked pallets, desperately trying to stay out of reach of Mark's dogs.
James David Dixon (Reporter)
Yo, what's going on here?
Charles Montgomery
Hey, what's going on? You know, the guy, he's yelling, what the hell's going on? Where these dogs come from? What the fuck? It feels like I'm living a nightmare. Feels like one of those dreams that you just can't wake up from.
Narrator/Storyteller
Both Charles and the repairman call 911. By the time police arrive, everything's quiet. But Charles is adamant in pleading his case to the responding officer.
Charles Montgomery
What seems to be the problem?
Narrator/Host
My neighbor sicked his dog from the Internet guy.
Charles Montgomery
That's true.
Tanisha Lintes (Neighbor)
Chaz was saying that, you know, Mark did it purposely, but I hope it wasn't purposely.
Narrator/Storyteller
Mark insists the dog's getting out was unintentional.
Mark Davidson
Sometimes my dogs get out, they nudge the screen door, and it happens by accident.
Narrator/Storyteller
He tells the police there's no cause for alarm, and they take his word. But Charles seizes the opportunity to plead his case.
Narrator/Host
Listen to me.
Tanisha Lintes (Neighbor)
You know what?
Narrator/Host
It's not just the dogs. He's filled my yard with junk. Come look at this.
Mark Davidson
Let's go.
Charles Montgomery
So they don't walk all the way into the backyard. They open up the fence, and he just told him to clean it up.
Narrator/Host
It's a real mess back there.
Charles Montgomery
All right, you gotta clean it up or that's a hefty fine.
James David Dixon (Reporter)
And mind the dogs.
Mark Davidson
Okay, officer.
Narrator/Host
That's it.
Charles Montgomery
And left. That was it.
Tanisha Lintes (Neighbor)
Unbelievable.
Charles Montgomery
Mark, when he was walking away, just said, man, you a snitch. I got you. I got you. And so that's when, of course, Everything starts to get really, really worse.
Narrator/Storyteller
Charles opens his front door one morning to see a dead rat laid out on his porch. Reporter James David Dickson explains the significance.
James David Dixon (Reporter)
Snitches get stitches. They get dead, killed rats, which in Detroit means you're a rat. And you can expect that similar will happen to you as happened to the rat.
Tanisha Lintes (Neighbor)
I heard about the dead rat being put on the porch. Didn't see that either.
Charles Montgomery
I'm between a rock and a hard place. I'm unsure what to do, how to move forward.
Narrator/Storyteller
For Charles and Carrie, there's no escape from the relentless stress.
Charles Montgomery
Oh, my God. Every freaking night, I would see lights and power tools closer to my home being ran all hours of the night, sometimes well into 3 and 4 in the morning. I think we should call the cops.
James David Dixon (Reporter)
Honestly, I don't think that's a good
Charles Montgomery
idea at this point with the police being caught out there. He pretty much told me that I was a rat and that I was trying to, you know, have him thrown in jail.
Narrator/Storyteller
Instead of calling police, Charles ventures out for a sneak peek at what his neighbor is up to and is disturbed by what he discovers.
Charles Montgomery
Now, where I can see everything and I'm looking at cars, you know, doors missing off cars, windshields gone.
Henry Sharg (Attorney)
It was very clear that Mark operated a illegal chop shop, which was to break down stolen cars and sell the parts on the black market.
Narrator/Storyteller
Not only is this revelation a shock for Charles, it's a dilemma.
Charles Montgomery
I can't be around this like I'm a licensed insurance agent. I'm legally bound to report this sort of activity.
James David Dixon (Reporter)
You can't have a chop shop and an insurance guy right next door. So at this point, the conflict really came to a head. So you have the alleged chop shop versus the insurance agent who can't be involved with this kind of thing. Even at the tacit wink, wink agreement
Narrator/Storyteller
level, Charles turns to other neighbors for help. Attorney Henry Sharg tells us he doesn't get the response he hopes.
Charles Montgomery
Hey, what's up, man?
Mark Davidson
Hey.
Charles Montgomery
Mark's chopping up cars, yo.
Tanisha Lintes (Neighbor)
You know, it's none of her business what he's doing.
Henry Sharg (Attorney)
Over the years, he had developed cred with credibility with his neighbors, repairing their cars, doing other neighborhood favors for them.
Charles Montgomery
Mark's a good dude once you get to know him.
Tanisha Lintes (Neighbor)
He's done nothing to me.
Henry Sharg (Attorney)
So he found a safe niche in that neighborhood.
Narrator/Storyteller
So Charles comes up with a solution.
Charles Montgomery
I said, look, I said, I'm going to get all of this squared away. I said, I'm just going to just buy the lots, just get all this headache done, I'm just going to buy the lot.
Narrator/Storyteller
Charles doesn't know it yet, but one neighbor quickly relays charles plans to Mark.
James David Dixon (Reporter)
They say loose lips sinks ships, and Chaz ends up telling his plans to someone he thinks is sympathetic. And then you end up giving information to your adversary.
Mark Davidson
That's my livelihood.
James David Dixon (Reporter)
Exactly what I'm saying.
Narrator/Storyteller
For Mark, this crosses a major boundary, one that he's not going to let slide. So he pushes the conflict one step further and past the point of no return.
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Narrator/Host
Seeking, Pushing, Optimizing, Creating, Learning.
Mark Davidson
Discovering. At Aramco, we believe in harnessing the
Narrator/Host
power of data to push the limits of what's possible. That's how we deliver reliable energy to
Mark Davidson
millions across the world. Aramco, an integrated energy and chemicals company.
Narrator/Host
Learn more about us@aramco.com
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Narrator/Storyteller
As Charles explains, Mark is seething mad when he approaches him.
Charles Montgomery
So Mark appears from just out of nowhere. Hey, real aggressive. I Just say, hey, I can't do this right now. Like, I have a client on the phone.
Mark Davidson
I need to talk to you.
Charles Montgomery
I'm on the phone, still with the client, talking. I open up my door, try to get in the car. Mark rushes me from behind, pushes me up against my car. I struggle as much as I can to turn around, and I drop my phone. The guy lifts me off my feet. It's like a pit bull fight at Chihuahua. Like, this is not the type of fight that you want to see go down.
Mark Davidson
You think you're gonna get away with that?
James David Dixon (Reporter)
How long are you.
Charles Montgomery
He lifts me completely off the ground and, you know, hurt my back pretty bad and starts choking me.
James David Dixon (Reporter)
You, me, the six two, 230 guy walks up on the 57150 guy and basically grabs him by his neck.
Mark Davidson
Listen, you need to reconsider my offer. Just sell your house to me.
Charles Montgomery
He was like, you know, it'd be better for everybody if you just leave.
Mark Davidson
Think about it.
Charles Montgomery
The guy's physically assaulted me. Now I know that choking is a felony. You know, this guy just literally choked me. There's marks around my neck. You know, I want something done. I mean, you know, from the guy that I met initially, this guy was nothing like that. You know, at this point, I'm really fearing for my safety and my life. So I end up going into the police station and I tell them what happened. I said, hey, my neighbor just assaulted me. I give them his name, they file a report.
Narrator/Storyteller
But authorities don't seem interested in taking things farther than that.
Henry Sharg (Attorney)
It's not uncommon, especially in the city of Detroit, where two neighbors are fighting or bickering. The police try to encourage the party assaulted not to pursue criminal charges, saying, I have to live with this person. Why don't you just try to avoid them?
James David Dixon (Reporter)
You're not viewing each other as people and neighbors anymore. You're adversaries. That ends up being a very isolating experience, especially when the other person has been on the block longer, is more popular, has helped people out with their cars. You're kind of the only person with a problem, and this is a bad person to have a problem with.
Narrator/Storyteller
Charles finally reaches his breaking point. He confides in his girlfriend, Carrie.
Narrator/Host
We gotta get out of here.
Charles Montgomery
You know, my girlfriend, I had to tell her, like, I don't feel comfortable, you know, with you and my daughters being here. I originally thought this was, you know, a great neighborhood to grow a family up in and, you know, my kids would have the room to grow out and branch and now my home feels essentially like a prison.
Narrator/Storyteller
It's time for Charles to plan his escape. But before he can flee his neighbor, he needs to prep the house for market. For their own safety. Charles sends Carrie and the kids back to her mother's place.
Charles Montgomery
I'm like, I can't knowingly leave you in a situation where this is going on.
Tanisha Lintes (Neighbor)
Bye, guys.
Charles Montgomery
Bye.
Tanisha Lintes (Neighbor)
Be good, okay? Okay.
Henry Sharg (Attorney)
Love you.
Charles Montgomery
It was a very scary time in my life.
Narrator/Storyteller
Carrie fears for her partner, so she leaves something behind for him. A gun.
Charles Montgomery
Anytime your girlfriend tells you you need to have this gun, you know that something is serious. Michigan is an open carry state, so I got a holster for the gun. I carried the gun the legal way, but I never, never went anywhere without, you know, having that gun with me. I never came home without having that gun with me.
Narrator/Storyteller
Even though he's armed, Charles still does everything he can to stay out of Mark's sight.
Charles Montgomery
At this point, I'm like, what can I do? I would literally drive around the neighborhood before going home. If I saw his vehicles out there, if I saw that he was, you know, doing anything out there, I would just not stop. I would literally go home at hours to avoid him. I would go to friends houses. You know, it became a point where, you know, I just didn't want to go home. You know, I didn't feel safe being in my home.
Narrator/Storyteller
For the residents of Five Points, the evening of April 15, 2019, starts off like any other. Charles drives back from his job after an hour especially productive day.
Charles Montgomery
Had a great day at work. I remember because I had wrote some big policies and I was actually happy about it.
Narrator/Storyteller
He arrives home to a street full of kids playing. Tanisha Lintes children are among them.
Tanisha Lintes (Neighbor)
Like any other regular day, let my children go outside to play. You know, they went out and, you know, went to check, you know, out the window and look, check out on my kids and stuff. You know, see them. They were still outside playing, you know, running up the street and stuff.
Narrator/Storyteller
Charles sees no sign of Mark, but there are signs of trouble.
Charles Montgomery
As I'm pulling up, I notice that the neighbor's garbage, which is directly to the left of my home, is now at the tip. And in my driveway, bust open, just bags of garbage.
Tanisha Lintes (Neighbor)
I looked over Chaz. I seen him kick, you know, some garbage and stuff around. He on the cell phone, pacing back and forth.
Charles Montgomery
Hey, yeah?
Narrator/Host
Is this your garbage?
Tanisha Lintes (Neighbor)
No way.
Charles Montgomery
Mm.
Tanisha Lintes (Neighbor)
Mm.
Narrator/Host
Well, is it Mark's?
Tanisha Lintes (Neighbor)
I don't think so.
Narrator/Storyteller
Charles is determined to find out who dumped the trash in his driveway. Attorney Henry Sharg explains what happened next.
Henry Sharg (Attorney)
He went through the garbage, and he found the phone number for a neighbor who lived on the other side and called the neighbor. Mark saw Chaz on the phone and assumed that he was calling the police. And that triggered Mark to come over to Chaz's property and confront him about the. The phone call.
Mark Davidson
Hey, get off the phone. This is not my trash.
James David Dixon (Reporter)
Buddy. Buddy, I don't want to do this anymore.
Henry Sharg (Attorney)
What started out as, you know, just, hey, you know, I'm not talking to the police. Just be cool. Just let me alone.
Tanisha Lintes (Neighbor)
I hear them, like, yelling. I'm like, oh, they arguing. And it was kind of, like, intense. So I was like, kids go in the house, you know, mind your business. Don't look.
Charles Montgomery
I know you can see this guy, and you're still walking up on me like this. Like. Like, what type of guy is this? Like, who.
Mark Davidson
Who.
Charles Montgomery
Who walks upon somebody with a gun on their hip.
Mark Davidson
You're a rat and a liar.
Charles Montgomery
He keeps coming up, keeps coming up. I just keep standing there like, bro, just please leave me alone.
Mark Davidson
You know what I'm gonna do?
Commercial Voice
What?
Mark Davidson
I'm gonna come back and I' burn this house down, and then I'm gonna kill you.
Charles Montgomery
I'm just yelling at him. He's just still yelling. Fuck you, you little motherfucker. I'm gonna get your ass. You know this. I'm done with this bullshit. I'm done with this.
Narrator/Host
You know what? I'd like to see you try that, bud.
Narrator/Storyteller
Attorney Henry Sharg explains there might be more to blame for the escalating fight than just the rising tempers.
Henry Sharg (Attorney)
Mark had been drinking. He was agitated. He was in his aggressive mode, and he lunged toward Chas.
Mark Davidson
You're trying to spread lies about me, you rat.
Narrator/Host
Buddy, just get out of here. Buddy.
James David Dixon (Reporter)
Buddy.
Narrator/Host
I don't want to do this anymore.
Henry Sharg (Attorney)
Several of the neighbors from across the street looked through the window and saw Mark and Chaz in the driveway involved in a heated argument.
Narrator/Storyteller
Then Mark takes things past verbal threats. He attacks.
Charles Montgomery
Get the hell off me.
Mark Davidson
Come on.
Charles Montgomery
What the hell are you doing? What are you gonna do, huh?
Tanisha Lintes (Neighbor)
I probably took about maybe not even five steps into my living room, and it was like the gunshots.
Narrator/Storyteller
Three more shots follow in quick succession.
Tanisha Lintes (Neighbor)
Pow, pow, pow. And I'm like, so marquis. I hit the floor. Oh, come on.
Mark Davidson
Come on.
Narrator/Storyteller
Tanisha will soon discover Charles has shot Mark multiple times. Here's Charles to explain what was going through his mind the moment he pulled the trigger.
Charles Montgomery
Once I started shooting, man, I just didn't stop until he stepped. To be honest, I didn't know how many times I actually shot.
Henry Sharg (Attorney)
Mark was shot seven times. There were seven shots fired, but somehow
Narrator/Storyteller
Mark is still alive. What follows is an actual 911 dispatch recording.
Tanisha Lintes (Neighbor)
911 was the address of the emergency.
Charles Montgomery
My neighbor just shot my other neighbor. He landed in the street. Oh, my gosh.
Tanisha Lintes (Neighbor)
And I'm like, at this point, I'm crying, like talking to him. I'm like, you gotta fight Mark. You gotta breathe and stuff and, you know, you gotta think about your children. You know, I just started praying. I just started praying over, you know, like, Chad started praying with me.
Narrator/Storyteller
Tanisha kneels by Mark in the street in this captured recording, a warning. What you're about to hear is disturbing.
Narrator/Host
What happened to him?
Charles Montgomery
I don't know.
Tanisha Lintes (Neighbor)
Breathe. Can you hear me, Mark? Please,
Charles Montgomery
please don't die.
Narrator/Storyteller
Mark is rushed to the hospital, fighting for his life as Charles is placed under arrest.
Charles Montgomery
I'm thinking, I didn't do anything wrong here. I said, talk to him. I'm thinking he's going to tell. I'm thinking he's still alive. I said, all you gotta do is talk to Mark. He'll tell you what happened. Like, just talk to him.
Narrator/Storyteller
45 minutes later, Mark Davidson is pronounced dead. Charles Montgomery is charged with second degree murder and the possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
Charles Montgomery
I didn't find out that Mark actually passed away until I was being indicted.
Henry Sharg (Attorney)
The narrative of this case was from the, you know, and from the local news outlets was that this was an altercation over garbage and over a garbage can and that Chaz had shot his neighbor because of this disagreement or this argument over garbage, which was, you know, as we learned, was the furthest from the truth.
Narrator/Storyteller
Four months after Mark's passing, Charles faces a jury of his peers.
Henry Sharg (Attorney)
This is a story of the neighborhood bully versus a choir boy. And the evidence in this case supported our narrative. And when I say he was a choir boy, he really, really was a choir boy.
Narrator/Storyteller
At trial, eyewitness accounts support Charles claim of self defense.
Henry Sharg (Attorney)
The jury went out and deliberated for less than a day. Count one, second degree murder, not guilty. As to the felony firearm count, not guilty.
Narrator/Storyteller
As Charles Montgomery explains, his acquittal offers little solace.
Charles Montgomery
You know, it was the day that I rejoiced. But at the same time, now I walk with this heaviness with me. If I could take it back or do anything differently to avoid all of this, I would never in my wildest dreams did I ever want to or thought about ever hurting anybody.
Narrator/Storyteller
Reporter James David Dixon concurs.
James David Dixon (Reporter)
When you hear accounts and you read interviews where people say that as soon as he had neutralized the threat of his neighbor, Chaz did the right thing. He called 911, he prayed, he sat with the man. In some of his final moments, you just wish that that had all happened earlier. So I just hope people hear this and think, what could I do differently? What would I do differently? Because even the man who defended himself and did what he thought was right at the time regretted didn't have to
Tanisha Lintes (Neighbor)
come to that point. It shouldn't have came to that point. Mark's death, it took a toll, you know, on the neighborhood. I seen what kind of father he was. And that right there is like the toughest blow. I'm never gonna forget.
Charles Montgomery
Yeah, I moved on. I had to rebuild my life. After everything, it's been a slow building process. I didn't wait anymore for anything. I live my life differently now. I live every day in the moment now. I don't plan as much as far ahead. At any point, any one of us could die. So now I live in the moment. I try to make sure that I live every day to the fullest.
Narrator/Storyteller
This podcast is produced by Cream Productions in association with Fremantle Media and id. You can check out Fear Thy Neighbor on Max Discovery and id.
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This episode of Fear Thy Neighbor explores the real-life neighbor dispute between Mark Davidson and Charles Montgomery in Detroit's Five Points neighborhood. What begins as camaraderie and shared community quickly devolves into property chaos, escalating threats, and ultimately, deadly violence. Through personal accounts, 911 calls, and expert commentary, listeners see how misunderstandings, entitlement, and desperation can turn even the friendliest blocks into battlefields.
"I'm Not Moving" is a chilling example of how community, pride, and desperation can intertwine to tragic effect. Through raw, first-person storytelling, listeners walk through each tension point—emphasizing that what seems unimaginable can all too easily become reality when empathy and communication collapse.
[End of Episode Summary]