Police, SWAT Teams Take Back a Home From Squatters

In a strange episode on a normally bucolic street, the Central Contra Costa County SWAT team joined Walnut Creek police in taking back a multi-million dollar home at 620 Sugarloaf Court around 8 p.m. on Thursday that they say was occupied by squatters. 

Four people were living in the home illegally, police say. Acting on a neighborhood tip on Monday, police visited the home. One of the occupants produced a lease that turned out to be forged. Police say that they discovered the home’s actual owner, who is out of town, had his identity stolen, which the squatters used as a basis for the phony lease.

Police obtained a search warrant and returned on Thursday. Since it was also suspected that there were weapons in the house, police called on the SWAT team and swarmed the home, arresting two suspects. They are Sydney Jones Jr., 30 years old, and Natalie Neith, 22. Police are still seeking two other suspects.

Police say an assault rifle belonging to one of the suspects was found in the home.

The home has been turned back over to the rightful owner.