Posted on 12/23/2025 2:59:54 PM PST by xxqqzz
BETHESDA, Md. (WBFF) — A $2.3 million home in one of Maryland’s wealthiest neighborhoods has become the latest test of the state’s ability to respond to squatting, exposing how legal gaps, slow court processes, and limited enforcement can leave communities waiting for action – even when ownership is clear and criminal complaints are filed.
The Bethesda case, now winding through Montgomery County courts, mirrors a pattern Spotlight on Maryland has documented statewide: Vacant homes, disputed occupancy, and neighbors caught between civil law and public safety concerns. Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy’s office said it cannot comment on this matter because “cases are pending” at this time.
...
“We heard about squatters in the news but never thought it would be next door to where we all grew up,” said James, who has lived for years in the wealthy Bethesda community. He requested to be identified only by his first name for safety reasons.
...
During that vacancy window, residents say alleged squatters moved in. ...
Criminal charges and a driveway arrest Court records show at least one neighbor also filed criminal complaints, including trespassing charges, against the occupants. On Dec. 8, those efforts culminated in Pollard’s arrest.
Video from the scene shows Pollard being taken into custody in the mansion’s driveway after police executed a trespassing warrant.
Pollard’s arrest exposed a much broader criminal history.
Pollard is now also facing extradition to Pennsylvania on multiple vehicle theft charges, accused of stealing luxury cars from a dealership parking lot in Lancaster. Court records further show a lengthy criminal record, including a federal case involving the transportation of stolen vehicles across state lines and possession of more than 100 grams of heroin.
For neighbors, the arrest validated long-held fears about who was living next door.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxbaltimore.com ...
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The bank has an obligation to protect and maintain the house particularly if the prior owner has some equity in it. I would also think they would be liable for any damages to neighbors caused by their neglect.
I’m in the wrong profession. Why work?
Ain’t anarcho-tyranny grand?
“Neighbors identified the occupants as Tamieka Goode and Corey Pollard...”
I would just have another group of “squatters” come in and take it from those actual squatters. Neither groups to ever be seen again.
The fact we don’t employ common sense these days allows this crap to happen. When properties are not abandoned but are empty for sale, or if someone has a summer home they use seasonally, squatters are just thieves. Breaking and entering and should be removed immediately and charged, tried and jailed. Then everyone wins, the owner keeps their property and the squatters get a place to live.
Tell some pyro the house is empty.
Just netsearch the term “Squatters Rights” to see how insane it has become.
One of my favorite stories of a home owner retrieving his property from a Squatter. This 50 year old’s mother passed away and left him the house. He did not live in it yet, and neighbors informed him that some squatters had moved in. They had even changed the locks!
The two squatters were a mom and her school age child. The owner noticed that they leave every weekday morning, perhaps work and school. So........ One day, he waited until they were gone, and had locksmith change the locks. He hired a few young strong men and put all of the squatters’ stuff out on the driveway. When the squatters arrived ‘home’ they were none too happy. The home owner had brought the title to the house, so the police were called. The police took a look at the title, and said to the squatters “you’re lucky he didn’t just take all your stuff to the dump.”
The home owner must be a Christian. He said that the driveway stuff could remain for a day or two.
Probably time for the squatters to find their next victim.
No simpathy fron here for those Bethesda residents...
They overwhelming snd continuosly vote for the politicians who caused these problems...
Mao and Stalin would win any election held in Maryland...
LOL!
MaryClownLand FTW!
“HAVE GUN - WILL TRAVEL”
Is the card of a man.....
In the old days, this issue would be “solved” rather quickly..
“We heard about squatters in the news but never thought it would be next door to where we all grew up,” said James”
Said James, the rich liberal who thought his liberal ideas would never affect him.
Maryland. I’m totally okay with this.
“HAVE GUN - WILL TRAVEL”
Is the card of a man.....
In the old days, this issue would be “solved” rather quickly..
***********************
That’s pretty funny.😀
However, the Citigroup mortgage bankers won’t be hiring a hitman.
They’ll get the squatters out using other methods
The news needs to stop referring to these people as squatters. They are trespassers. AFAIK they have no legit claim of tenancy.
The one thing that’ll become apparent over the next decade is there will be plenty of unoccupied real estate.
Real estate that has an owner, but won’t find many buyers outside of highly capitalized real estate acquisition companies.
The real problem is antiquated laws like squatter’s rights, adverse possession, recognition of historic boundaries vs. modern GPS surveys based on the original plots... all of these old laws weaken property rights and should be retired to the dustbin of history.
Oy vey.
Bug bomb it. It probably needs it anyway - one broken window and ten bombs will get any squatters out.
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