YOU
YOU WAS
YOU WAS TRICKY, THOUGH. BECAUSE SOME OF THE CAMPERS WHO
WE MAY THINK OF AS SQUATTERS
WERE IN FACT INVITED.
BUT THAT WAS BEFORE THE
HOMEOWNER DIED.
HOMEOWNER DIED. YOU MOVE OUT TO THE COUNTRY FOR
A SENSE OF PEACE AND QUIET.
TO MAKE A LIVING.
>> GRASS SEEDS ARE A MAIN
ACREAGE CROP.
ACREAGE CROP. >> Reporter: TO RAISE A FAMILY.
>> I HAVE GRANDKIDS.
>> Reporter: THIS, THIS
DISRUPTED THAT PEACE AND QUIET.
>> THE WHOLE THING WAS COVERED
IN GARBAGE.
IN GARBAGE. THAT WAS THE TOTAL FRONTAGE
VIEW OF THE HOUSE.
THE HOUSE WAS BASICALLY 40, 50
FEET THAT WAY.
JUST KIND OF RIGHT IN HERE.
>> YOU DID NOT FEEL AT EASE
WHEN YOU CAME OUT OF THE HOUSE.
>> Reporter: NEIGHBORS LIKE RON
STICCA AND MARK CABLER PUT UP
WITH THIS MESS ON NORTHEAST
HENDRICKS ROAD IN NORTHEAST
CARLETON FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS.
>> THE INSIDE OF THE HOUSE HAD
SO MUCH STUFF IN IT THAT YOU
COULD NOT LOCK UP THE STAIRS.
>> Reporter: TOWERING MOUNDS OF
JUNK EVERYWHERE, VIOLATING
COUNTY CODE, AND POSING A
HEALTH HAZARD.
HEALTH HAZARD. >> THAT'S WHAT THEY WERE USING.
THIS TOILET SEAT ON A FIVE
GALLON BUCKET.
GALLON BUCKET. >> Reporter: NEIGHBORS SAY IT
GOT WORSE LAST SPRING.
>> THERE WAS ONE OVER THERE.
>> Reporter: THESE RUNDOWN RVS
AND VANS WERE SCATTERED OUT ON
THE YARD, USED AS CRASH PADS,
AND SEVERAL PEOPLE DECIDED THIS
PROPERTY WAS A FREE FOR ALL
CAMPING GROUND.
CAMPING GROUND. >> LAST SUMMER AT THIS TIME
WHEN THERE WAS 14 OR 15 OF THEM
AROUND AND THEN YOU HAD ALL OF
THESE PEOPLE THAT STARTED
FIGHTING, PEOPLE WERE KIND OF
WORRIED ABOUT THEIR PLACES.
>> Reporter: YAMHILL COUNTY GOT
INVOLVED AND DISCOVERED THE
HOMEOWNER ROGER LET AT LEAST
ONE PERSON CAMP OUT THERE AT
SOME POINT.
SOME POINT. >> THEY IN TURN TOLD ME THAT
THERE WERE SOME INDIVIDUALS HE
WAS AFRAID OF.
HE DID NOT WANT TO ROCK THE
BOAT BUT ALSO DID NOT WANT TO
SEE THEM BECOMING HOMELESS.
>> Reporter: IN OCTOBER, ROGER
DIED, WITH NO KIDS, AND NO WILL.
THINGS GOT OUT OF HAND QUICKLY.
>> THIS WAS A DANGEROUS
SITUATION.
SITUATION. >> Reporter: CHRISTMAS EVE,
CAMPERS BURNED THE BAR DOWN.
NEW YEAR'S EVE, THE HOUSE.
IN JUST THREE MONTHS, DEPUTIES
WERE CALLED TO THE HOUSE AT
LEAST 60 TIMES, FOR CRIMES
INCLUDING BITES, FIRING GUNS,
AND DRUG USE.
>> SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT HAS TO
BE ON A FIRST NAME BASIS.
>> Reporter: YAMHILL COUNTY
WENT ON A TIME-CONSUMING HUNT
TO FIND AN HEIR.
MEANWHILE'S, THE CAMPERS STAKED
THEIR CLAIM TO ROGERS' PROPERTY
AND CLAIMED THEY WERE HELPING
HIM CLEAN UP OR HE PROMISED IT
TO THEM.
TO THEM.
TO THEM. LAW ENFORCEMENT'S HANDS WERE
TIED.
TIED.
TIED. THEY COULD NOT PROVE THE
CAMPERS WERE TRESPASSING.
>> THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE DOES
NOT ENJOY GETTING INVOLVED IN
CIVIL MATTERS, AND, DOESN'T
BELIEVE THAT THEY HAVE
AUTHORITY TO REMOVE PEOPLE WHEN
THEY ARE TENANTS, OR THAT THEY
HAVE SOME CLAIM TO BE A TENANT.
>> Reporter: UNDER OREGON'S
LANDLORD-TENANT ACT, YAMHILL
COUNTY OFFICIALS SAY THE
CAMPERS WEREN'T TECHNICALLY
SQUATTERS.
SQUATTERS. HE HAD TO TREAT THEM AS
HOLDOVER TENANTS, SINCE THE
HOMEOWNER GAVE SOME THE INITIAL
OKAY TO BE THERE.
A HOLDOVER TENANT IS SOMEONE
WHO STAYS PUT WITHOUT A
LANDLORD'S CONSENT AFTER A
RENTAL TERM HAD CONSENTED.
OR IN THIS CASE, WHEN THE
HOMEOWNER DIES.
HOMEOWNER DIES. >> THERE IN LIES THE RUB WITH
THE STATE LAW.
>> Reporter: ONCE AN HEIR WAS
FOUND, THEY GET THE MAXIMUM
EVICTING NOTICE.
EVICTING NOTICE. BUT THE PEOPLE STAYED PUT.
SO, THE HEIR GOT A FORCIBLE
ENTRY AND DETAINER AND THE
CAMPERS EVENTUALLY GAVE UP
WHEN DEPUTIES CAME OUT AND
THREATENED TO ARREST THEM.
>> I THINK THAT IS LARGELY DUE
TO THE FACT THAT THEY HAD
NOWHERE ELSE TO GO.
SO THEY HELD ONTO THE VERY END,
UNTIL THEY FINALLY LEFT THE
PROPERTY.
PROPERTY.
PROPERTY. >> Reporter: THE ENTIRE PROCESS
TOOK ABOUT THREE MONTHS.
>> YOU ARE ESSENTIALLY HAVING
TO TREAT THESE INDIVIDUALS LIKE
LEGITIMATE TENANTS.
LEGITIMATE TENANTS. DO YOU THINK THAT'S A PROBLEM?
>> OF COURSE IT'S A PROBLEM AND
I THINK THE ONLY WAY WE CAN
ADDRESS THAT IS WITH
LEGISLATION.
LEGISLATION. TO SAY, LET'S ACKNOWLEDGE THAT
THESE ARE NOT LAWFUL TENANTS,
AND THEN LET'S SPEED UP THE
PROCESS OF REMOVING THEM FROM
THE PROPERTY.
THE PROPERTY. >> Reporter: YAMHILL COUNTY
COMMISSIONER MARY McCONDA
WORKED WITH STAYED NOBLE, TO
ENSURE THIS LEGISLATION THE
PAST SESSION, TO MAKE IT EASIER
TO REMOVE PEOPLE IF THE
GOVERNMENT AGENCY FIND A PLACE
UNLAWFUL TO LIVE IN UNDER
STATE OR LOCAL LAW.
BUT, THAT BILL WENT NOWHERE,
WHILE THE PROBLEM STAYS PUT.
>> IT'S EVERYWHERE.
>> IT IS A CONCERN NOT JUST IN
THE CITY BUT IN RURAL AREAS AS
WELL.
WELL.
WELL. >>
WELL. >> Reporter: FORTUNATELY, THE
PROBLEM ISN'T FESTERING ON
HENDRICKS ROAD ANYMORE.
>> IT'S NIGHT AND DAY.
>> Reporter: CABLER BOUGHT THE
LOT FROM THE HEIRS AND CLEANED
UP THE ENTIRE THING.
>> SOMEBODY NEEDED TO BUY IT TO
GET RID OF THE MASS.
AND I DID NOT WANT IT NEXT TO
MY HOUSE ANYMORE.
>> Reporter: PEACE AND QUIET IS
RESTORED.
RESTORED.
RESTORED. AT LEAST ON THIS COUNTRY ROAD.
FOR THESE NEIGHBORS.
>> THE BIGGEST THING I SEE IS,
THE PROBLEM DID NOT GO AWAY, IT
JUST MOVED.
JUST MOVED. >> Reporter: AGAIN, THE CAMPERS
WERE NOT HANDLED AS SQUATTERS
AND THE SITUATION WAS EXTRA
DIFFICULT BECAUSE THE HOUSE WAS
IN PROBATE BUT IT GOES WITHOUT
SAYING, BE VERY CAREFUL WHO YOU
INVITE ONTO YOUR PROPERTY
BECAUSE IT'S NOT SO EASY TO AND
INVITE THEM.
INVITE THEM. WE DO HAVE ADVICE FOR YOU ON
HOW TO PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY
AGAINST SQUATTERS.
AGAINST SQUATTERS. ONE, KEEP WATCH OVER YOUR OWN
PROPERTY AND YOUR OWN HOME.
SECONDLY, EDUCATE YOURSELF ON
THE ISSUE IF YOU ARE A PROPERTY
OWNER, MANAGER, OR REALTOR.
IF YOUR PROPERTY IS IN A
DIFFERENT STATE, POSSIBLY HIRE
A PROPERTY MANAGER.
POST NO TRESPASSING SIGNS IN
VISIBLE LOCATIONS.
VISIBLE LOCATIONS. ALSO, CONSIDER INSTALLING A
SECURITY SYSTEM AND ALARM.
CALL POLICE IMMEDIATELY IF YOU
DO CONFRONT SQUATTERS ON YOUR
PROPERTY, OR YOUR PROPERTY
MANAGER CONFRONTS THEM.
ULTIMATELY, THOUGH, IF YOU
DON'T LEAVE ON YOUR OWN ACCORD,
YOU WILL LIKELY HAVE TO TAKE
THE SQUATTERS TO COURT.
BACK TO YOU.
>> WE WANT TO KEEP FOLLOWING
THIS ISSUE.
THIS ISSUE. IF YOU HAVE A SIMILAR STORY
YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE, LET