Downtown LA Renters Share Their Disturbing Experiences with a Difficult Landlord
Landlord Faces Criminal Harassment Charges Amid Tenant Allegations
Nela Petrusan, owner of a downtown Los Angeles apartment building, appeared in court Wednesday to address criminal harassment charges stemming from a series of alarming allegations made by her tenants.
According to residents, Petrusan has created a hostile living environment marked by daily verbal abuse and threats. Jacob, a tenant, described the situation, stating, "Nela will be talking through her door, swearing at us, insulting us, calling us [expletives]… all sorts of weird crap."
The accusations extend beyond verbal assaults. Tenant Daniel Zuniga claimed that Petrusan was involved in acts of vandalism, specifically alleging that she set fire to his car years ago, stating, "She has lit my car on fire and destroyed my car." He also mentioned having been sprayed with bear spray during confrontations. When confronted with these claims, Petrusan denied her involvement, asserting, "I’ve never lit any cars on fire. Show me the date, and we’ll see. We’ll play all the cameras." While Zuniga did present video evidence of two car fires, Petrusan’s presence in the footage could not be confirmed.
Additional concerns have emerged regarding maintenance and safety within the building. Residents reported aggressive behavior from Petrusan’s boyfriend, Jeremy, who is also a maintenance worker. A photo shared with FOX 11 suggests he may have had a firearm in his possession. Jeremy refuted this claim, asserting, "I’ve never owned a gun in my entire life. Ever."
In defense of her actions, Petrusan argued that she is being unfairly targeted for her efforts to improve the building’s conditions, stating, "There’s no habitability issue here. All I do is clean here and they want to send me to jail for 20 years for trying to clean my apartments."
Amid the growing tensions, the Los Angeles Tenants Union has called for Petrusan’s removal from the property and urged city officials to take control to ensure tenant safety.
Petrusan’s next court hearing is scheduled for later this month.
