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 be targeted by vandals. Both were owned by John Powers Middleton, whose father owns the Philadelphia Phillies baseball team.
The first property, where alleged sex offender Sean Combs once filmed a music video, was tagged ‘Diddy was here,’ the outlet reported. The New York Post.
According to the outlet, the second house received new paint and days later was vandalized again with new graffiti.
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 home tagged with $6.53 million after Middleton defaulted on property taxes.
The second house received fresh paint only to be vandalized again with new graffiti days later.
The first property, where alleged sex 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.”
Over the years, the properties have become a nuisance to nearby residents, as well as posing a safety concern.
Neighborhood resident Marina Mizruh said neighbors had complained about the property for years.
“There were squatters, and more squatters, and then graffiti, and more graffiti. What should happen? I think the city should eventually take possession of the house and tear it down,” he said. NBC.
An armed squatter was arrested in January 2022 and then again in August 2023, but more squatters destroyed the property, prompting further police visits, it was reported. KABC.
Los Angeles City Councilwoman Nithya Raman’s office said Middleton was in “serious violation of the law” after mishandling the properties.
A lien had been placed on the $6.53 million home after Middleton failed to pay property taxes, the New York Post reported.
Los Angeles City Councilwoman Nithya Raman’s office said Middleton was in “serious violation of the law” after mishandling the properties.
City workers were putting up a fence Tuesday and Los Angeles Police Department officers were on site as some of the graffiti was removed.
Ten people were removed from the home earlier this month, and police were called six times in September.
Marina Mizruh, a resident of the neighbourhood, said: “There were squatters, and more squatters, and then graffiti, and more graffiti. What should happen?”
An armed squatter was arrested in January 2022 and then again in August 2023, but more squatters destroyed the property, prompting further police visits.
The Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety also ordered Middleton to build a fence and secure the property, which when he failed to do so resulted in the city building a fence, NBC reported.
Other residents in the area told the outlet that the vandalism is a “reflection of the decline of America” as the use of tags on property has increased even more in recent years.
Ten people were removed from the home earlier this month, and police were called six times in September.
NBC reported that city workers were putting up a fence on Tuesday and that Los Angeles Police Department officers were on site as some of the graffiti was removed.
