After the recent death of a notorious Billings slumlord, police testified in court this week that a criminal gang element has allegedly moved into the Colonial apartments on the South Side.

The rundown boarding house at 223 S. 27th St. has long been a hotspot for crime, violence and unscrupulous dealings. With police often called to the Colonial multiple times a day, it’s also been a drain on city resources.

Prompted by increasing violence and catastrophes at the property, including two homicides, officials took legal action against longtime landlord John Skauge in January 2023.

The city sought an order from a Yellowstone County District Court judge to force him to either repair or raze the aging building, arguing it was unsafe for renters and a magnet for crime.

But the case ran into

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