The Los Angeles Police Department has recently nabbed two individuals accused of defacing a Hollywood Hills mansion with graffiti, an act that joins a series of vandalisms targeting the abandoned property. According to ABC7, the arrests took place near the residence on Mulholland Drive following a tip from community members. The suspects, identified as 35-year-old Jacob Smith and 19-year-old Thomia Fagan, reportedly fled the scene in a white Mercedes-Benz sedan before being apprehended by law enforcement.
The LAPD officers, specifically assigned to monitor the property due to previous instances of graffiti, found not only spray paint cans but also a loaded unregistered firearm inside one of the suspect's bags, as per CBS News LA. This recent development points to a broader struggle to maintain the upscale area, with both Middleton-owned homes having reportedly been abandoned for years, gradually turning into canvases for vandalism and, allegedly, havens for squatters.
The mansions, owned by John Powers Middleton, son of the Philadelphia Phillies team owner, have sparked concern amongst residents, primarily due to their dilapidated state and graffiti. In a statement obtained by NBC Los Angeles, Middleton expressed remorse for the state of his properties and explained that despite the security measures in place, the persistence of trespassers made it difficult to protect the buildings.
Meanwhile, the city's frustration with the properties seems to be growing. A lien had been issued against one of the houses for unpaid property taxes. Los Angeles Councilmember Nithya Raman's office labeled the property situation as an "egregious violation of the law," as pointed out by NBC Los Angeles.
