Yuma, AZ - A front loader started in the back yard, within minutes half of the house was nothing but rubble. Neighbors came out to see this first hand, many have been waiting some time for the city to take action.
"It had to be done.. I'm lucky I only had to put up with it for a couple years... Other people living on this block have had to deal with it for 15 years or more," says Debra Bordges a neighbor.
This home on the 2400 Block of Sierra Vista Avenue was condemned by the City of Yuma early April. The city described it as a biohazard with unsanitary, unhealthy and dangerous conditions. They found mounds of trash, an infestation of fleas, roaches, human and animal waste smeared though-out the house and 70 dead cats a few living that were distressed.
Randy Crist the Chief building official for the City of Yuma was on scene the day of the administrative inspection and tells News 13 about his experience.
"The scene was horrific in all my years I have never scene anything like that, while working for the city of Yuma or private sites," says Crist.
The home was such a hazard, the city says there was no choice but to have the place demolished.
Workers say six 40-yard dumpsters of trash were removed from the interior of the home. They expect to fill 10 more with the exterior.
According to the city William Cohn had been the property owner but his son Paul had been living in the house for the past several years. Paul Cohn is currently in jail for several charges ranging from animal cruelty to public nuisance.
Neighbors say this should send a strong message for those who choose to live in such bad conditions.
"It's sending a message here, and everywhere. This is going to be a turning point for a lot of people to get them to start cleaning up," says a neighbor.
Workers say they will finish leveling the house today. But that there's still a lot of work to do tomorrow. They will need to pull out the cement to get the lot as clean as possible.
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