Flash Shelton never thought he’d become an internet sensation, but now he’s a man clad in black tactical body armor and carrying pepper spray, a stun gun, a baton, a body camera and, at times, a Glock 26 pistol. And his hat? It says “Get Out” in clear letters.
Shelton is tasked with evicting squatters from an abandoned house. “I own this house,” he tells them. “Move your stuff out today, and whatever’s left is mine.”
His method is quick and effective: Instead of months or years of court battles and expensive legal fees, Shelton’s confrontations often end with the squatters leaving within hours. “It all started with me trying to be a good son,” Shelton, now known as Squatter Hunter, said in an interview. people.
In 2019, after her father’s death, Shelton’s mother was unable to sell their vacant Northern California home because squatters had moved in. “The police said there was nothing they could do, it was a civil matter,” Shelton told the outlet.
So he hatched a plan: His mother would sign off on the lease as the official tenant, giving him legal access to the house. He would drive 10 hours from Los Angeles, set up security cameras and confront the squatters.
“I basically said, ‘Look, this house is mine now. If you try to come back in I’m going to sue you,'” he said. By midnight, they were gone.
Shelton First Video A video of the encounter, posted in 2023, has been viewed more than 6.3 million times and gone viral. Now, property owners across the country are seeking his help. “I get about three or four calls a day,” he added. “Some people say I’m doing God’s work, but others say I’m doing the devil’s work.”
Shelton, who recently signed a TV production deal, explained his strategy to People magazine.
He usually starts by gathering information about the squatters, checking their backgrounds and preparing video of their movements.
“If anyone is worried about being able to rent a property in the future, or worried about their social media reputation or losing their job, that’s all I have to do and they’ll go away,” he said.
When that fails, he moves out.
“I say, ‘Hey, let’s talk,’ and I explain that we’re literally going to move in here and I’m going to occupy this space and put cameras in every single place except the bedroom and bathroom,” he added.
If necessary, he would cut off public services or begin renovations to make living conditions unbearable. “I can cut their doors in half with a chainsaw … and turn their living space into a nightmare,” he said.
Despite the intensity, Shelton remains clear and in control.
“I’m the tough guy. I’m their gym teacher, their drill instructor,” he said, adding that his background as a baseball coach, business owner and bouncer helps him keep his cool in these high-stress situations.
“I approach every situation preparing for the worst and adapting to the best,” he added.
So far, Shelton’s conflict has not escalated into a physical confrontation.
“Luckily, there hasn’t been any violence so far. I’ve always been 100% clear about who we are: we are squatter hunters.”
