A property management group is calling out a father for spreading misinformation.
Leo Sullivan went viral after posting videos of property management employees telling him and his sons they couldn’t sit at a Chicago apartment complex pool earlier this month.
He said they were kicking him out because he refused to provide his identification.
“I’m the only Black man out here,” Sullivan said.
He said the woman in white started talking to police on the phone before he hit record.
“Now she’s gonna call the police on me, in front of my children,” Sullivan said. “Not only that, who takes an ID to a swimming pool?”
Sullivan noted a white man swimming in the pool and a white kid sitting off to the side.
“There’s a kid over there; does he need his ID?” he yelled at the women.
One of Sullivan’s sons tearfully asked his father to give the woman his ID. Sullivan refused, telling his son he didn’t have to.
“Daddy, I don’t want you to go to jail,” the child cried.
“Just because we’re Black, we can sit here just like everybody else,” Sullivan said as his son cried.
Arden Living, the property management group, contacted Atlanta Black Star to clear up what happened.
Clearing Up Confusion
“We are deeply upset about the extensive misinformation being shared on social media about our company and the doxing of our innocent employees,” the spokesperson said. “Our company has a long history of serving diverse communities, and we proudly employ individuals of many racial and ethnic backgrounds.”
According to Arden Living, security camera footage proved the women asked four other, unrelated individuals at the pool for their driver’s licenses.
“Our employee simply followed established property policies that are applied equally to all residents and guests. Since Mr. Sullivan never checked in with the front desk upon his arrival (as he agreed to do), never obtained a pool pass, falsely identified himself as a tenant, and never provided ID when politely asked, staff had no way to identify him as a guest, so authorities were called to help resolve the situation,” Arden Living said.
The property management group went a step further and posted its conversation with Sullivan on social media.
Troubling Evidence
It took place before he arrived at the complex. In the conversation, Sullivan acknowledges the policy requiring him to go to the front desk before going to the pool.
“If you’re planning to use the pool during your stay, could you please send us the first and last names of all adult guests (up to 4 adults)? We’ll provide these to the front desk in advance so they can grant temporary pool access when you arrive. Each adult will just need to stop by the front desk with a valid ID to receive access. Children do not need to be registered,” the message read.
“Thank you! The only other ‘adult’ would be my 15-year-old son,” Sullivan wrote back, giving the property his son’s information.
The organization then asked Sullivan if he agreed to the rules.
“Yes, I have reviewed the rules listed and agree to them,” he wrote back.
In addition to spreading misinformation, the property management team accused Sullivan of putting the employees’ lives in danger.
“We treated Mr. Sullivan with respect and professionalism, as we do with all tenants and guests, and will always maintain a welcoming and safe environment for all.”
Atlanta Black Star reached out to Sullivan again for a response but has not heard back.
