Standoff in Holland over…foreclosure related?
The Blade published the address of the home where it’s reported a man, who has not yet been identified has barricaded himself in his home with a gun. They did publish the name of the owner of the home. Michael Swiergosz, according to Lucas County Common Pleas public records is listed as facing foreclosure action currently being taken against the homeowners, by Fifth Third Mortgage Company. The media reports indicate this started as a possible domestic dispute this morning and there were some reports that a shot was fired, but no indication anyone was hurt, the woman who has also not been identified escaped from the home unharmed.
Fox Toledo is reporting that the man who has not yet been identified, has been removed from the residence.
Statistically incidents of domestic violence and suicide result from economic pressure such as an impending foreclosure. In reporting the death of a woman in Mass. who took took her life as a result of her home being foreclosed on:
Nadine Kaslow, chief psychologist at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta and a professor at Emory University’s School of Medicine, said such financial stresses come attached with significant psychological consequences.
“There is no question that the economic downturn in our country is causing havoc with people’s mental health,” she noted. “It is very depressing to lose one’s home. It represents loss of stability, a feeling of failure. … It is scary and overwhelming.”
Money problems are one of the top reasons why marriages and relationships fail. It stands to reason in the current economic climate, more and more couples are going to face these moments, where it’s hoped they’ll figure out a way to pull together rather than to fall apart. I personally know the majority of the times my husband and I argue, it’s related to money, or the lack thereof…
It could very well be that this particular situation has nothing to do with the impending foreclosure, especially since the persons involved have not been identified, it could as an example be a couple renting the home, but it’s realistic to suggest it played a role.
Updated! In the updated news on Fox Toledo it has been confirmed that it was Michael Swiergosz and the story mentions the home foreclosure. It’s also stated that according to neighbors the couple had recently separated. I noticed earlier in doing my public records request that they had filed for divorce once previously but reconciled.
Lisa says…”Money problems are one of the top reasons why marriages and relationships fail. It stands to reason in the current economic climate, more and more couples are going to face these moments, where it’s hoped they’ll figure out a way to pull together rather than to fall apart. I personally know the majority of the times my husband and I argue, it’s related to money, or the lack thereof…”
But it happens during prosperity as well.
March 10th, 2009 at 1:37 pmIt does Rockets, but when couples are facing economic problems it can make other issues in their relationships become even more of a problem. Depression, suicide and domestic violence are believed to increase when a family is facing economic stress, it exacerbates the problems that could already be there.
March 10th, 2009 at 1:40 pmLisa says…”It could very well be that this particular situation has nothing to do with the impending foreclosure, especially since the persons involved have not been identified, it could as an example be a couple renting the home, but it’s realistic to suggest it played a role.”
Very true but to “suggest it” would be speculating. Who knows maybe the wife had an affair, or he had an affair or he found out that he’s wife used to be a man. Or better yet, she had a baby with an alien and made the husband snap all of a sudden. Speculation…speculation….
March 10th, 2009 at 1:40 pmOr maybe they were renters and they were not even the couple who owned the home. It just struck me as an opportunity to point out that while public record information can suggest things, sometimes all we can do is speculate. Until the identities are confirmed, all that there is to go on is speculation.
March 10th, 2009 at 1:43 pmLisaRenee wrote:
Or perhaps it make many other couples grow closer together to get through the tough economic times. I believe couples have problems when one of the spouse does not carry the weight or curb the out-of-control spending. It takes two to work as a team. Marriage is a lot of work…yanno…
March 10th, 2009 at 1:44 pmThat’s true, or if there are communication problems, if you can’t share what your worries/frustrations are, you can feel isolated. Even in a marriage.
March 10th, 2009 at 1:46 pmLisaRenee wrote:
Why you speculator you….
March 10th, 2009 at 1:46 pmGeez…Michael Swiergosz worked for me about a dozen years ago. Nice guy, and awful sitiation, but this hits a little too close to home. I’m glad that the police were able to resolve this without any casualties.
March 10th, 2009 at 8:53 pmI knew Mike from High School. VERY nice guy. My point is that unfortunate things happen to good people and while I feel badly for him and wish him the very best, I DO NOT find this story to be newsworthy in any capacity. It’s a personal situation that Mike is facing and NOT something that people who do not know him should be speculating about, nor should they even be informed of in the first place in the interest of “news”.
How would YOU feel if your personal or medical problems were published like this?
I’m ashamed of the local news media for stooping so low.
Mike Moore
March 16th, 2009 at 10:27 pmIf I ended up in a scenario where the police came to my home and I refused to come out? I’d expect media coverage. It stops being a personal situation once that happens and once the home address was reported? Everything else that was related was either public records information or neighbors who stated it.
It’s not the media’s fault the incident happened.
March 16th, 2009 at 10:41 pmMike – perhaps you’re thinking differently because you know the man involved. Its certainly newsworthy when the police have to intervene when a man barricades himself and another individual in their home with a gun.
Everything else (like possible foreclosure, divorce, and other legal action) is public record.
If a person doesn’t want the public speculating about his situation, then perhaps that person shouldn’t be making a public spectacle of himself.
March 16th, 2009 at 10:46 pmIt is a terrible incident. I also know Mike, as well as a number of other financial services professionals that have had ill fortune over the past two years.
I hope all works out well with Mike and his family; especially his children. Hopefully, no dire effects result….I have witnessed far too many of those in the past 12 months.
March 16th, 2009 at 10:47 pm