Homeowner In Foreclosure Has Possession Of Vacated Home Swiped Out From Under; Cops Refuse Help, Say It's A Civil Matter

In Bakersfield, California, KGET-TV Channel 17 reports:

• A viewer e-mailed 17 News, saying squatters have taken over his southwest Bakersfield home. He says no one will help get them out. "I was very naive, foolish you might say. I wanted to help them," said Juan Medina.



• Juan Medina is packing up for a new life in Tehachapi. A messy divorce in 2008 left him with a house payment he could no longer afford. While trying to modify his loan, his southwest Bakersfield home was empty. Two months ago, he says he returned and discovered people living there.



• "I went to the garage and the garage was locked with a different padlock, went to the front door and my keys did not work. I felt really bad for them. I had heard so many families get in trouble because they had been lied to. My first thought wasn't to kick them out. My first thought was to help," explained Medina.



• The family told Medina they have a rental agreement with a local relator, but has yet to show him the document. Medina showed 17 News the deed to his home. He is the legal owner. But, he is trying to turn it over to the bank to avoid foreclosure.



• However, that can't happen because Medina says the bank requires it to be empty and clean. "There's an unaccountable amount of dogs and cats running through the house, in the backyard, large dogs. It smells like feces and urine inside," he continued.



• We followed Medina to his home. A man told us his sister lives in the home and has a rental agreement. "The cops were here yesterday and she showed cops. It has nothing to do with you guys," he said. A woman inside the home wouldn't come out and no one showed us the rental agreement. "I just want to speak to you for two minutes," Medina told the woman through the door. "Serve me a 30-day notice. Please leave me alone," she responded.



• Medina said Bakersfield police officers came to the home, but they couldn't kick the family out. "Unless we can prove that the proclaimed renter knew that the situation was fraudulent from the very beginning, our hands are tied. It's a civil situation," said Sgt. Mary DeGeare, Bakersfield Police Department.

For the story, see 17 News investigation: Man says squatters have taken over his home.