Neighbors blame no air conditioning for man's death

By John Trierweiler

Phoenix, AZ (KNXV ) -- People who are living at the "Tides on Rail" apartment complex in Phoenix are fed up. They say certain buildings have been without air conditioning since last Friday and it's not getting repaired.

Robyn Mandel, who lives in a unit where the air conditioning is out, says some of her stuff has even started to melt. "My clothes smell due to the excessive heat, my apartment is still probably 95-100 degrees inside."

Phoenix police are unable to confirm a heat-related death at the complex but neighbors tell ABC15 a man in his late 60's died in his unit because there was no air conditioning.

A portable A/C truck was brought in to help cool down units while repairs were conducted, but those living at the complex say that truck did not arrive right away and was not working as well as it should.

Apartment complex management sent out a notice acknowledging the problem with the air conditioning and told people they could find an alternate place to stay, offering to pay for a portion of expenses.

Those dealing with the heat and lack of A/C, like Dalton Pulvino, say more could've been done and claim property management is not being helpful.

"They get this portable A/C truck and that breaks and then even after the portable A/C truck is here the apartments are still averaging 95-100 degrees," said Pulvino.

ABC15 reached out to the property management company for the "Tides on Rail" complex, they did not get back to us.