WASHINGTON COUNTY, Ore. — Eight people were evicted from a Washington County home that had been an eyesore and magnet for problems on Friday afternoon deputies said.
The bank-owned home on Southwest 182nd Avenue had been cleaned on Wednesday after deputies served a search warrant to gain access to the outside of the property.
Code enforcement officials said dumped garbage and human waste caused a rodent infestation and created serious health hazards.
“So the county’s going to take a rare step and go onto the property and have our contractor clean it up,” said solid waste supervisor Theresa Koppang.
People squatting in the home continued to frustrate neighbors and law enforcement. A sheriff’s sergeant described the type of criminal activity the home has attracted.
“Drugs, stolen vehicles, stolen property, disturbances, people with warrants. We’ve been out here many times. In the last six months alone, we’ve been out to this house over 170 times,” said Sgt. Bob Ray.
Because the home was foreclosed and is bank-owned after changing hands several times, it had been a frustratingly slow process to get to the cleanup warrant. It would have taken even longer to get people inside evicted.
Neighbors had safety concerns and want their neighborhood back. Longtime resident James Buck still managed to find good will for the squatters.
“Hopefully that they get help, you want to see everybody to get help and do better. But the hope is they move on and the next people that move into that house are better,” said Buck.