Fargo Tenants Seek to Break Leases Due to Safety Concerns

“I have to either pay or stay,” a long-time resident told Valley News Live, expressing the desperation currently gripping the Osgood Townsite apartments in south Fargo.

The tenant, who asked to remain anonymous, is facing a choice between staying in a complex she no longer feels safe inhabiting or paying $7,854 to break her lease early. Property Resources Group (PRG), which manages the complex, has reportedly offered residents the alternative of finding someone to take over their lease, though the tenant noted that finding a new occupant in the current environment seems unlikely.

The push for residents to exit their contracts follows a disturbing discovery on November 3, 2026, when a maintenance worker performing a routine call at 4911 44th Ave. S. reported hearing cries for help. According to Valley News Live, investigators entered the unit and found a woman chained to a bed in a room with tin foil covering the windows and a security camera pointed at her.

Prosecutors have charged 40-year-old Arturo Calzada-Becerril and 41-year-old Erendira Amoles with kidnapping, assault, and domestic violence. Court documents state the victim told investigators she had been brought to Fargo from Mexico in 2024 by her ex-husband, Calzada-Becerril, and had been held captive in the apartment without being allowed outside for two years.

Both suspects are currently being held in the Cass County Jail.

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While the kidnapping case is the most extreme incident, residents describe a broader pattern of instability. Multiple tenants have reported break-ins and robberies, suggesting a long-term decline in the safety of the property.

Management at the PRG-managed complex has attempted to address these fears. In a mass email sent to residents following the arrests, management stated they are working closely with the Fargo Police Department and will “maintain presence of our on-site patrol team to help support the safety and security of our residents.”

PRG also previously told Valley News Live that their security team “does walk each floor of the buildings” and that staff have observed guards “actively patrolling the property.”

However, residents like Gina Vazquez say these claims do not align with their daily reality. Vazquez, who lives at Osgood Townsite, said she has never seen a security vehicle and has no knowledge of who the security personnel are, despite working irregular hours.

“I have no idea who the security guy is, I have no idea who they’re talking about,” Vazquez said. “I come in at all hours of the night because of my job, I’ve never seen a security car… are we sure there’s security?”

Fargo police dept cruiser on the streets of this north dakota city

This disconnect between official statements and resident experience is driving the movement to break leases. One tenant noted that the lack of answers regarding recent crimes has left the community feeling fed up and unsafe.

The tenant who is seeking to leave her lease suggested that the growing number of residents coming forward to voice their safety concerns might eventually force the complex to allow them to depart without the heavy financial penalties.

The legal implications for renters in these situations remain an open question. Valley News Live is scheduled to speak with a rental attorney later this week to determine the specific circumstances under which a tenant might legally break a lease due to safety concerns.

“The more people who come forward and say they don’t feel safe, the more likely the apartment complex is gonna have to let us go,” the resident said.