Neighbor Suspected of Vandalizing Properties
A Miami-Dade man has been accused of harassing his neighbors, throwing nails on their driveway and eggs at their homes.
Dubbed "the neighbor from hell," Mitchell Igelko allegedly caused property and psychological damage, according to residents.
"He's an angry guy and he tries to intimidate you," Bob Derhagopian said.
Late last week, Igelko was arrested and charged with criminal mischief and stalking in separate incidents. Police are currently investigating other incidents as well and additional charges may be filed.
Neighbors allege this one-man reign of terror started in 2008 when Igelko, a landscaper, started feuding with Derhagopian after they hired another company to do some work.
"I was getting a flat tire… Not only myself, but everybody in the neighborhood was getting flat tires," neighbor Francisco Torres said.
Soon after that, neighbors joined together and set up surveillance cameras to catch the perpetrator. Cameras caught an unidentified man throwing a rock through a car window and eggs at a home.
Another camera caught someone sprinkling nails on driveways and lawns, causing flat tires.
Residents claim that Igelko hired others to do his dirty work when a camera caught a group of men spraying gasoline on a parked car.
In another incident, a white truck was caught on camera spraying liquid on grass. The next day the grass was dead and neighbors once again say Igelko was behind it.
"Nobody should have to live like this," Derhagopian said.
Igelko's lawyer, Daniel Espinosa, says this is nothing more than an ongoing neighborhood dispute and Igelko himself has been victimized by vandals.
"To suggest my client would vandalize his own home burn his own grass, throw eggs at his own car is absolutely preposterous," Espinosa said.
