Eviction Gone Wrong

Oakland police were called to investigate a fight that broke out at the early hours on April 11, 2019, at 7036 MacArthur Blvd. Oakland.

Sergeant Josef M. from the Oakland police department said the property manager George Shafazand was attacked by tenants when he tried to serve an Eviction Notice to the residents at an apartment in Pinewood Terrace.

According to the police report, Mr. Shafazand, an ex-martial arts trainer of Taekwondo & Krav Maga, acted in self-defense when five residents attacked him with a gun, machete, and baseball bat. After an engaged physical exchange, he sent two of the five assailants to Highland hospital in Oakland for a broken jaw, arm, and hips and one in a critical condition. The Police then arrested all the five residents, took them into custody, and were all booked into the Alameda County Jail.

Mr. Shafazand, however, suffered a mild concussion when he was hit by the bat on his head and was later released from Sutter hospital in Berkeley.

In an interview, a neighbor who sought to remain anonymous said that he looked out of his apartment door upon hearing the noise commotion and saw the property manager being attacked. In his opinion, it was like watching Enter the Dragon movie. He immediately called 911 and requested help.

Alameda District attorney’s office filed charges against the five tenants for assault with deadly weapons. The jury found all five guilty, and they are set to appear in court for sentencing in March of 2021.

The DA will release the CCTV recording of the fight captured by the building’s CCTV cameras after the judge has determined to sentence and the case is closed.

We have reached out to Mr. Shafazand for comments, but have not heard back yet.

By Ernesto Gutierez