City takes action against Plumwood home

Following a closed discussion Tuesday evening, the Santa Clarita City Council approved the acquisition of a property on Plumwood Avenue in Canyon Country due to issues related to an ongoing building inspection process, city officials said.

Community Conservation Manager Tracy Sullivan acknowledged Wednesday that taking action against 27442 Plumwood Ave. was an important step for the city, but one that was taken because of the severity of the case.

“The City Council has authorized the city to request the appointment of a receiver,” Sullivan said, describing the receiver as a “third party approved by a judge who would take possession of the property and fix the violations.”

If the city’s plan is approved by the court, a judge would essentially allow the third party to take temporary possession to remediate the property. City Attorney Joe Montes called this a “last resort measure to remove the nuisance” in his report from the closed session.

Once the remediation is complete, the owner will get his property back, but the cost of the remediation will remain attached to the property in the form of a lien for which the owner is responsible, Sullivan said.

Whether the owner, 65-year-old Carl Pruett, can stay on the property during the cleanup will likely be decided by the presiding judge, officials said. Pruett is currently in the custody of the LA County Sheriff’s Department.

The property was covered in trash Wednesday afternoon when a dust-covered black Toyota 4Runner was towed from the front yard. About half a dozen notes were taped to the front door with blue masking tape.

A person who identified himself as a family member and asked to remain anonymous said the family is working to clean up the property. He said he was unaware of the city council’s announcement.

The city and the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station reported numerous problems at the property, which was still owned by Pruett as of Wednesday afternoon, according to LA County Assessor’s Office records.

In February, a lengthy standoff ensued between him and local police officers, which was ultimately ended by the Sheriff’s Department’s Special Enforcement Bureau – the LASD’s SWAT team.

Pruett is due back in court in July but is currently being held at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in downtown Los Angeles. He is awaiting a psychiatric evaluation after his attorney raised concerns about his mental competency.

Pruett left his home across from Canyon Springs Community Elementary School armed with a black-handled machete with a rusted, 2-foot-long metal blade, according to affidavits in court documents obtained by The Signal.

The court report states that Pruett left the property and walked toward officers while “uttering incomprehensible screams, waving the machete in the direction of officers and ignoring commands to stop.”

After officers attacked Pruett with their Taser, he went back into the house and barricaded himself inside, according to a police detective’s statement included in court records.

Pruett’s actions led to a standoff lasting nearly six hours, as a result of which several surrounding houses had to be evacuated.

Cindy Kowalczyk, who runs a licensed daycare in her home across from Canyon Springs, said it was a relief that the city was taking action on the property, even though she felt sorry for the man.

She frequently sees him riding his bike shirtless up and down the street and his erratic behavior makes her fear for everyone’s safety. She hopes he can get help, she added.

Following the standoff, neighbors said Pruett was a widower and described him as a somewhat reclusive recluse. The yard of the Plumwood home was lined with shopping carts at the time.

One of his children, then a student at Canyon High School, died of a heart attack while jogging in 2009. Pruett has had several run-ins with local police in recent years, according to sheriff’s department records available online.

At his arraignment in connection with the Feb. 1 standoff, Pruett pleaded not guilty to three counts: assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer, criminal threats and grand larceny – for stealing an iPhone in an unrelated context.

The indictment against Pruett also alleges “aggravating circumstances” as separate charges. These include allegations that Pruett was using a weapon at the time of the crimes and that he had previously served a sentence for a misdemeanor that included a diversionary sentence.

Pruett is due back in court on July 2. His evaluation will be discussed during a special hearing in Division 213, a so-called mental health court in Hollywood.

He is being held on $170,000 bail, according to LASD arrest records available online.