Three people lived in a romantic “throuple” relationship in a vacant mansion in Alpharetta, Georgia for nearly a year.
Fulton County Marshal’s Office agents raided the mansion this week and evicted the unlawful occupants, according to WSBTV.
Marshal’s pokesperson Capt. Quintin Hill told WSBTV the trio broke into the 15,000-square-foot home during the foreclosure process.
In January, JP Morgan Chase bank filed eviction documents in Fulton County magistrate court. But the squatters claimed they were Sovereign citizens.
During the raid, authorities used a drone to survey the massive property and locate any squatters inside, the marshals said.
Squatting was an ongoing problem in Georgia until a new law was passed making it easier for police to arrest squatters.
Under the new Georgia law, if squatters are caught inside a home, they must show a lease agreement. If the lease is fraudulent, the case becomes a felony and they are immediately removed from the premises.
Anyone, including neighbors or Home Owners’ Associations, can report suspected squatters to the police under the new law.
Georgia is among a handful of red states that outlaw squatting. Squatting is still legal in many blue states.
The governor’s office released a statement after the successful eviction:
“The governor remains proud to have signed critical legislation passed by the General Assembly that immediately empowered local law enforcement with greater authorities to tackle illegal squatting in their communities. Illegal squatting is theft and we look forward to our local partners in law enforcement utilizing their increased authorities in this area and holding criminal offenders accountable.” – Garrison Douglas, Gov. Brian Kemp Spokesperson.
Watch video of the raid below.
Marshals raided a 15,000 sq. ft. mansion in North Atlanta occupied by suspected squatters.
Under Georgia’s new law, squatters have 3 days to show a valid lease, or face charges, which can escalate to a felony if the lease is fake. pic.twitter.com/JgvK7JQtwv
— Everything Georgia (@GAFollowers) October 16, 2024
Damn, they actually passed a law that is good for the citizens of Georgia
— 770LOCKS (@770locks) October 16, 2024
Good, squatters rights are ridiculous anyway.
— Conservative Forum (@CForumGA) October 16, 2024
The real crime is all these abandoned buildings in ATL while thousands sleep on the streets ???
— DARK SKIN CLARK KENT ???? (@squat_pilgrim) October 16, 2024
