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Evictions begin after police arrest apartment manager

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SAVANNAH, GA (WTOC) -

More than thirty people were told to pack their stuff up and move out...after a federal investigation at a Garden City apartment complex.

Westgate Apartments is section 8 housing that is federally funded by tax payer money.

Garden City Police say the manager, Shannon Gradick, was allowing convicted felons to live in the complex which is against federal guidelines.

The manager was arrested and the new management began serving eviction notices to people who didn't meet the federal criteria.

The complex houses mostly women. They admitted to WTOC they have criminal backgrounds, but they still don't understand why they have to go.

"That is wrong how they're trying to throw everybody out. My charges aren't that serious...but they don't care. They are just throwing everybody out," resident Kyndra Gadson said.

Garden City Police Chief David Lyons says the police department has nothing to do with the evictions. He says they are just providing the management with support. But he says the complex has been overrun with crime in the past and he is happy to see things changing.

"It's not meant to be a drug haven. It's not meant to be a source of business for drug dealers...and that's where this complex was going," Chief Lyons said.

Gradick has bonded out of jail. Police say she'll likely also face federal charges.

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