A 23-year-old landlord in Nashville, Tennessee, is facing serious charges after allegedly using multiple insect foggers to force tenants, including a 4-year-old child, out of a rented apartment instead of pursuing a legal eviction.
Ervyana Davis, an African American woman who resides in the Nashville area, was arrested and charged with two counts of felony child abuse and two misdemeanor offenses after reportedly attempting to “smoke out” a tenant family with bug bombs.
According to police, Davis used between five and sixteen foggers inside the apartment while the family was still inside, in violation of health and safety regulations.
The incident unfolded after Davis allegedly tried to force the family out of the property. When they refused to vacate, she contacted local law enforcement, who advised her that evictions must proceed through civil court. Ignoring that advice, she purchased a large number of roach bombs and released them into the living space, according to an arrest warrant obtained by Law & Crime.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) explicitly warns against remaining in a space after a fogger is activated, advising that people and pets should stay out for at least two to four hours. The agency also notes that a single fogger is sufficient for a 25-by-25-foot room—far less than what Davis reportedly used.
Soon after the foggers were released, the young child began coughing and experiencing severe breathing difficulties. The family rushed the child to the hospital for emergency treatment. No other injuries were reported.
Davis was arrested the following day and booked into the Davidson County Jail, where her bond was set at $37,000.
Legal experts say this case highlights the importance of understanding landlord-tenant rights and the consequences of bypassing legal eviction procedures. In Tennessee, landlords must file through civil court to remove tenants, and attempting to force them out through threats, shutoffs, or dangerous actions is illegal.
The case is now under investigation, and child welfare advocates are monitoring the situation closely.
