TAMPA, FL -- Time maybe running out for a former Hillsborough County Sheriff's Deputy who has been living rent free for almost two decades in a house at a public park.
Today, County Commissioners voted to take the matter to court.
The County Commission acted less than a week after an ABC Action News investigation uncovered that Cartwright has ignored repeated requests by the Parks Department to vacate the home at Brandon's Saladino Park.
Cartwright was allowed to live in the house rent free in exchange for maintaining security at the park.
"Well he's 2-3 months behind in his reports, so we haven't had anything out of him since about August,” says Parks and Recreation Spokesman John Brill.
Cartwright was fired from the Sheriff's Department more than a year ago after two instances where he pulled a gun on motorists during traffic disputes. Once when he was off duty.
Cartwright claims he was fired in retaliation for his union activities and that the Sheriff's Department and Parks Department are conspiring against him.
He even provided us with copies of reports he claims to have filed showing he's still doing his job watching the park.
"We're not conspiring with anybody. He's not doing his job and he's no longer a deputy and we've asked him to leave and he hasn't," says Brill.
At times, Cartwright appeared frustrated sitting in the second row at the Commission meeting, but he never got up to speak and no one spoke on his behalf.
Cartwright left quietly after the Commission's vote but not before coming over to us, shaking our hand and apologizing for not being able to comment on his situation.
When we asked him how he's doing, he smiled, laughed and said "How do you think."
