I stepped forward.
"Before we continue, I'd like to ask one question."
"You may."
"Under which recorded covenant are you exercising authority over my property?"
Silence.
Mara blinked.
"All of them."
"That's not an answer."
Doug jumped in.
"We've enforced these standards for years."
"That doesn't make them legal."
I pulled the certified map from my folder.
"Oakrest Meadows' last valid boundary ends twenty-seven feet before my property line."
The crowd leaned forward.
Mara's face reddened.
"That is not possible."
I handed the map to the officer.
"Would you mind looking at this?"
The officer studied it.
He looked at me.
Then Mara.
Then the map again.
"Where did you get this?"
"The county recorder."
He nodded slowly.
After another moment, he turned toward Mara.
"Ma'am, he's correct."
Silence.
"His property is outside the HOA jurisdiction."
Doug's mouth opened.
Nothing came out.
The officer continued.
"This is a civil matter. The HOA cannot enforce its rules on property it doesn't govern."
Mara shook her head.
"We have an annexation clause."
"Do you have a recorded annexation?"
She hesitated.
I answered for her.
"No."
The officer looked at Mara.
"Then you don't have jurisdiction."
Mara's voice became sharper.
"We'll appeal."
"You're free to pursue whatever legal remedies are available to you."
He paused.
"But don't call law enforcement again to enforce a private HOA dispute."
Doug lowered his clipboard.
The officer handed me back my documents.
"Keep everything."
"I will."