Midland, Texas - The Midland Police Department worked to clear out and seal the Vaughn Building in downtown Midland on Thursday, April 11, 2024. The effort was part of an on-going initiative by the City of Midland to address safety concerns related to dilapidated buildings.
According to the Midland Police Department, the operation was conducted to prevent unlawful activities in such structures. As stated by the department, "MPD’s effort is part of an on-going effort by the City of Midland to keep people from entering and residing in dangerous and dilapidated buildings across the city."
The action taken by the police was a response to the approval of an ordinance by the Midland City Council in March. The ordinance aims to streamline the process of securing substandard buildings, with one of the expected outcomes being the reduction of crime hotspots. As highlighted by the Midland Police, individuals have been entering these unsafe buildings like the Vaughn Building, leading to criminal activities. The police mentioned, "Midland Police have stated that people are unlawfully entering dilapidated buildings, like the Vaughn Building, and are engaging in criminal activity."
On the day of the operation, Midland Police conducted a thorough sweep of the Vaughn Building and subsequently sealed it off. This measure is intended to prevent homeless individuals and students from accessing the building in the future.