Authorities have filed charges against the owner and tenant of a short-term rental on Curson Avenue in the Melrose District for allegedly hosting gatherings in violation of COVID-19 public health orders. (photo by Cameron Kiszla)

The city of Los Angeles recently shut off utilities at a house in the 800 block of North Curson Avenue that had been the site of numerous complaints about disruptive parties during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office has filed criminal charges against Nyjah Huston, who was identified as a social media influencer and tenant of the property, and Edward Essa, who was identified as the property owner.  The defendants were each charged with a violation of the city’s party house ordinance for allegedly holding a loud and unruly gathering. Huston is a professional skateboarder with 4.5 million followers on Instagram.

“Enforcing against party houses has always been a priority for me, given how disruptive they are to their neighbors,” Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer said. “During the pandemic this enforcement is particularly important, because party houses can produce super-spreader events that jeopardize public health. We’re taking the steps to shut them down.”

The utilities were cut on Jan. 12 after police from the Wilshire Division responded to a party on Jan. 9 and allegedly found approximately 40 people at the residence. Capt. Shannon Paulson, commanding officer of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Wilshire Division, said officers had been there previously in September and October and encountered large gatherings.

Per city regulations, citations were issued both times to the host and property owner, and a notice was posted. Upon the third violation, the LAPD sent the information to the Safer LA Task Force, operated under Mayor Eric Garcetti’s Office, and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power cut the utilities.

Paulson stressed that LAPD’s role is strictly to issue citations and document what is occurring. She added that the house on Curson Avenue is among several that have received first or second citations and could also be in jeopardy of future utility shut-offs and criminal penalties.

“[It was] because of the history of this location and because the neighborhood itself had expressed extreme dissatisfaction with what was going on,” Paulson said. “They worked pretty quickly on this one. Within a matter of days, they shut off the power.”

Paulson couldn’t confirm whether the utilities remained off but said they generally are until a criminal case is resolved. She said the house appeared to be empty when officers accompanied LADWP workers on Jan. 12.

The captain declined to specifically comment on most of the other properties with first or second violations, but said a short-term rental on Maryland Drive in Beverly Grove where two people were shot at a New Year’s Eve party remains under investigation.

“They are on that list and are being closely watched,” Paulson added. “This is something we are taking very seriously and plan to be following up on these properties.”