By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-09-26 06:55:10 | Updated at 2024-09-30 23:28:52
4 days ago
A second home in the Hollywood Hills has fallen victim to squatters who have been vandalizing nearby mansions with graffiti.
The multi-story mansion is the second home in the area to have been targeted by vandals. Both were previously owned by John Powers Middleton, whose father owns the Philadelphia Phillies baseball team.
The first property, where alleged sexual offender Sean Combs once filmed a music video, was tagged 'Diddy was here', reported the New York Post.
The second home was given fresh paint, according to the outlet, only to be vandalized again with new graffiti days later.
Both tagged properties were previously owned by John Powers Middleton, whose father owns the Philadelphia Phillies baseball team
A lien was issued on the first tagged $6.53 million home after Middleton defaulted on property taxes
The second home was given fresh paint only to be vandalized again with new graffiti days later
The first property, where alleged sexual offender Sean Combs once filmed a music video, was tagged ' Diddy was here'
Other residents in the area told the outlet that the vandalism is a 'reflection of the decline of America'
For years, the properties have become eyesores to nearby residents as well as a safety concern.
Neighborhood resident, Marina Mizruh, said neighbors had complained about the property for years.
'We had squatters, and more squatters, and then graffiti, and more graffiti. What needs to happen? I think the city should eventually re-possess the house and take it down,' she told NBC.
One armed squatter was arrested in January 2022 and then again in August 2023, but more squatters destroyed the property prompting more police visits, reported KABC.
Los Angeles Councilmember Nithya Raman's office said that Middleton was in 'egregious violation of the law' after poor handling of the properties.
A lien had been issued on the tagged $6.53 million home after Middleton defaulted on property taxes, reported the New York Post.
Los Angeles Councilmember Nithya Raman's office said that Middleton was in 'egregious violation of the law' after poor handling of the properties
City workers were placing a fence on Tuesday and officers of the LA Police Department were on site as some of the graffiti was being removed
Ten people were removed from the home earlier this month and, within September, the police have been called six times
Neighborhood resident, Marina Mizruh, said: 'We had squatters, and more squatters, and then graffiti, and more graffiti. What needs to happen?'
One armed squatter was arrested in January 2022 and then again in August 2023, but more squatters destroyed the property prompting more police visits
Middleton was also ordered by the LA Department of Building and Safety to build a fence and secure the property which, after he did not, resulted in the city building a fence, reported NBC.
Other residents in the area told the outlet that the vandalism is a 'reflection of the decline of America', as the tagging of the property has further increased in recent years.
Ten people were removed from the home earlier this month and, within September, the police have been called six times.
NBC reported that city workers were placing a fence on Tuesday and officers of the LA Police Department were on site as some of the graffiti was being removed.
