A second home in the Hollywood Hills has fallen victim to squatters vandalizing nearby mansions with graffiti.
The multi-story mansion is the second in the area to be targeted by vandals. Both homes were previously 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 labeled “Diddy was here,” the New York Post.
According to the outlet, the second house was repainted, but a few days later it was again defaced with graffiti.
Both tagged properties were previously owned by John Powers Middleton, whose father owns the Philadelphia Phillies baseball team
A lien was placed on the first home for $6.53 million after Middleton defaulted on property tax payments
The second house was given a new coat of paint, but was defaced with graffiti again a few 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 newspaper that the vandalism is a “reflection of the decline of America.”
For years, the buildings were an eyesore to local residents and posed a safety hazard.
Neighbor Marina Mizruh said neighbors had been complaining about the property for years.
“We had squatters, and then more squatters, and then graffiti, and then more graffiti. What’s going to happen? I think the city should eventually repossess the house and tear it down,” she said. NBC.
One armed squatter was arrested in January 2022 and again in August 2023, but more squatters vandalized the property, leading to more police visits, the report said. KABC.
According to the office of Los Angeles City Councilwoman Nithya Raman, Middleton is in “serious” violation of the law by mishandling the properties.
The $6.53 million home was foreclosed on after Middleton failed to pay his property taxes, the New York Post reported.
Los Angeles City Councilwoman Nithya Raman’s office said Middleton committed a “serious violation of the law” after mishandling the properties
City workers were busy installing a fence Tuesday and Los Angeles Police Department officers were on the scene as some of the graffiti was removed.
Ten people were evicted from the home earlier this month and police were called six times in September
Neighbor Marina Mizruh said, “We had squatters, and more squatters, and then graffiti, and more graffiti. What should happen?”
In January 2022, one armed squatter was arrested and then again in August 2023, but more squatters vandalised the property, leading to more police visits
Middleton was also ordered by the Los Angeles County Department of Building and Safety to build a fence and secure the property. When he failed to do so, the city put up a fence anyway, NBC reported.
Other residents in the area told the newspaper that the vandalism is a “reflection of the decline of America,” as property tagging has increased in recent years.
Earlier this month, ten people were evicted from the home and in September, police were called six times.
NBC reported that city workers were putting up a fence Tuesday and that Los Angeles Police Department officers were on the scene removing some of the graffiti.