Los Angeles tenant arrested twice in subletter dispute before securing civil judgment
After being arrested on false domestic violence claims filed by her subletter, Grove won a $12,800 small claims judgment and secured an eviction, though criminal prosecution remains unlikely.
Frankee Grove, a 42-year-old Los Angeles resident, was arrested twice in early 2025 after her subletter, Sabrina Mollison, filed false police reports alleging assault and a domestic violence restraining order based on a fabricated romantic relationship. The arrests occurred during a hostile tenancy dispute that saw Grove subjected to a police raid on her Venice bungalow and held in a holding cell, despite Mollison being the party responsible for vandalism, theft, and intimidation.
The conflict began in January 2025 when Grove sublet her property to Mollison to cover the $5,100 monthly rent. Tensions escalated quickly, with Mollison allegedly damaging property, including a designer sofa stained with food, and bringing an unauthorised dog into the home. When Grove issued a verbal 30-day notice to vacate, Mollison responded by filing a restraining order application and false assault reports, which led to Grove’s first arrest. Mollison subsequently obtained a domestic violence restraining order by claiming a romantic relationship with Grove, using this to justify a second arrest when Grove was served with the order at her home.
Legal intervention eventually dissolved Mollison’s restraining order, and Grove secured a $12,800 civil judgment in small claims court after Mollison failed to appear for the hearing. The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Office officially evicted Mollison in July 2025, ending the physical occupation of the property. Grove had also paid $10,000 to her landlord to avoid civil action related to the delay in eviction proceedings.
The Los Angeles District Attorney declined to prosecute Mollison for the false reports and vandalism, citing a backlog in the legal system. However, the case remains under review by the Los Angeles City Attorney. Grove, who worked for an ed-tech company, noted that the experience forced her to re-evaluate her trust in institutional systems, as the legal framework designed to protect victims was weaponised against her.
Mollison’s employment was also affected by the fallout; her former employer, Club Pilates, fired her for alleged theft and misconduct. Grove attempted to collect on her civil judgment through bank levies and wage garnishment, but found no funds in Mollison’s accounts. The incident underscores the financial and psychological toll of tenancy disputes in California’s high-cost housing market, where informal agreements can leave property owners vulnerable to exploitation.
