Mohave County Sheriff’s Office deputies have arrested a squatter, Edward Aaron Phillips-Ellison, 30 of Mohave Valley, for 1st Degree Criminal Trespassing, 2nd Degree Burglary, Forgery/ Possession of a Forged Document, and Fraudulent Schemes, all felonies.
On September 29th, deputies made contact with the owner of a residence in the 2400 block of Arizona Ave., who had noticed some unusual activity on the property’s electric bill. Deputies responded to the residence and observed it was occupied by a male subject, later identified as Phillips-Ellison and a young female child. After interviewing Phillips-Ellison, it was learned that he had moved into the residence in August with his girlfriend.
A lease agreement was provided to deputies with Phillips-Ellison’s signature, and what appeared to be the signature of the property owner. A phone call to the property owner revealed that he had never signed a lease agreement and the subjects did not have his permission to be at the residence.
Over the next week, deputies attempted to make contact with the subjects at the residence several times with negative results. On Friday (10/5) deputies made contact at the residence with Phillips-Ellison and the female subject. Both parties advised that all contact with the “landlord” had been made by phone and email, however they could not provide deputies with the emails to support their statements.
Phillips-Ellison was detained, and when asked again about the contract, advised that a friend had told him about the house and made the contract. Phillips-Ellison said he knew that he was not dealing with the home owner and he was arrested.
Deputies told the female she needed to vacate the property and have submitted charges against her as well.