Squatters take over vacant Fort Bragg house

A vacant house outside of Fort Bragg was taken over by squatters, according to the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office. Four people were found illegally living in the Turner Road home Sunday afternoon, sheriff’s officials said. A fifth was arrested later that night for burglarizing the house, which belongs to a 78-year old Red Bluff woman, officials said.

Deputies were alerted to the situation after an astute neighbor told the owner that people were living in her house, officials said.

When they arrived at the house, they found Daniel Neal, 40; Kyler Casey, 23; Jessica Craft, 26; and Megan VanHorn, 30, all of Fort Bragg, unlawfully living at the residence, officials said.

Deputies also located property that had been stolen during other burglaries reported in the Fort Bragg area, along with methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, officials said.

Neal was arrested on suspicion of first-degree burglary, possession of stolen property, forgery and maintaining a residence where a controlled substance was used. Casey was arrested on a warrant related to theft. The other two were released, but deputies filed a complaint with the district attorney’s office, alleging they unlawfully occupied a structure. Deputies returned to the house just before 10 p.m. to conduct a security check when they found that someone else had entered the home. They arrested Ryan Ivey, 37, of Fort Bragg as he was leaving, officials said.

They found several items belonging to the homeowner inside Ivey’s vehicle, officials said.

Ivey was arrested on suspicion of burglary and possession of stolen property. He also was arrested on suspicion of committing a felony while out of custody for another burglary.

You can reach Staff Writer Glenda Anderson at 707-462-6473 or glenda.anderson@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter ?@MendoReporter