‘This is not my problem but I am dealing with it’ Toledo man fed up with roaches in his house

TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) - At night, while you are counting sheep, one Toledo man is counting cockroaches.

This Freedom Street resident wanted to remain anonymous, but said the roaches cover his fence and yard every night.

And, it’s been like that for five years.

“It really sucks to live like that,” the resident said.

He said his neighbor’s house is to blame.

Upon first glance, the property looks run-down. The windows are either boarded up or broken, bins and garbage cans are sitting in the front yard, and vines are starting to consume the fence.

“It’s so beyond frustrating,” he said. “You’re constantly working to keep your house clean and sanitary.”

The resident said he’s spent over $1,000 to control the pests. Container traps and powder traps line the outside and inside of his house.

Our 13 Action News crews observed cockroaches along the fence and in the complaining resident’s yard.

It turns out, the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department is aware of this home.

A spokesperson said:

“Our inspectors are currently working with the owner of 1425 Freedom. Repairs and pest control are ongoing to our knowledge, but due to the odor, continued presence of cockroaches, and broken windows, our team did post the house unsafe with no criminal charges on 7/15/25. Communication with the homeowner is ongoing.

The inspector did not issue a Notice to the owner so he technically wasn’t given a deadline – the inspector has been communicating everything verbally since the owner has been doing what has been asked of him. He has mostly cleaned out the house and has had a pest control company out there. Our inspector will make contact again soon. As for the neighbors, I do not know of a resource for them other than professional pest control companies which it sounds like they have already done. That would be our suggestion."

The Lucas County Auditor lists the owner as an “Aaron Burgin.” 13 Action News had a brief text conversation with someone by that name, but they didn’t answer our questions.

“This is not my problem, but I am dealing with it,” the anonymous resident said.

It appears this man will have to continue counting cockroaches until his neighbor can clean up their property.

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