After losing his dog to gunfire, homeless man Matt Steele recently lost his place to live near the former Turco’s in Yorktown Heights.
Steele, whose dog, Luke, was allegedly shot and killed by former NYPD officer James Molloy in early August, had long been a fixture at the property, where community members often visited him. Yorktown News understands that Steele is currently staying at an undisclosed a private residence in town, though it's unclear if and when he may have to move again.
Yorktown Police Chief Justin Foley said White Mountain Management, which oversees the property at 380 Downing Drive (near Route 118), revoked Steele’s permission to remain there.
A memorial created by Steele’s friends and supporters, many of whom knew Luke, was created near the spot where the man and his dog stayed.
Foley told Yorktown News a White Mountain representative went to the Yorktown Police Department on Aug. 20 to file a complaint regarding Steele.
Halston Media reached out the property management company through its online contact form but has received no response as of press time. Updates will be posted at theyorktownnews.com.
Police said Steele's removal was legal: He was living on private property and, once his permission to remain there had been revoked, he had to move. Foley said the White Mountain Management representative completed a supporting deposition and, in the presence of a Yorktown police officer, ordered Steele to vacate the property or face a trespassing complaint.
Steele agreed to leave without incident but needed time to gather his belongings, police said.
Foley said in an email to Yorktown News that the police department was “able to work with” the property management company “to let [Steele] remain on the property for an additional week to work on another location to live at and move a large amount of accumulated property.”
Steele began moving his belongings with the assistance of friends on Aug. 26. By the following day, Steele and his belongings had been moved from the property to another private, noncommercial property in Yorktown, Foley said.
A Westchester County agency that has worked with Steele in the past also responded to assist him, according to Foley.
Community members have rallied around Steele since Luke’s killing earlier this summer, offering assistance and helping him identify potential places to stay.
Supervisor Ed Lachterman said town officials were aware of Steele's situation and hoped he would find a more permanent shelter.
“From my understanding, Matt accepted an offer to stay at someone's home while he tries to his life back together,” Lachterman told Yorktown News.
Foley said Yorktown police have continued to try to connect Steele with assistance during their interactions with him, coordinating with other government agencies numerous times to respond and offer support.
Foley said the department took action on behalf of White Mountain Management because Steele was living on private property rather than public or town property.
Steele, who was rarely seen without Luke (sometimes also known as Snoopy), had been waiting for the dog's remains to be returned to him after Luke's body was initially held for testing by the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office.
Sources told Yorktown News that the DA released the dog's remains last month. Rainbow Bridge Pet Crematory in Yorktown returned Lukes ashes to Steele shortly after.
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