Paps Busted for Loitering Near Casa Spears

Two photogs arrested after ignoring cops' warning not to park on city-owned fire road near popster's Mulholland Drive-area manse

By Natalie Finn Jul 22, 2008 11:01 PMTags
Britney Spears, Summit HouseMike Carrillo/ CelebrityHomePhotos.com

Even if you're standing where there's only the possibility of a fire, you can still get burned.

Two paparazzi on Britney Spears watch were arrested Monday after ignoring a police warning about being illegally parked on a city-owned fire access road near the pop star's Studio City home.

According to the Los Angeles Police Department, officers spotted Alexander Passos and Eduardo Ravalha, both 35, parked in a restricted area at about 6 p.m.

They were arrested about 45 minutes later when, upon returning to the site, the cops found that the gentlemen had neglected their suggestion to get their shutterbug jollies elsewhere.

Ravalha's car was towed and impounded, pretty much putting the kibosh on any good tailing action for the night, and both men were booked at North Hollywood Station on suspicion of loitering. They were released later that evening.

Earlier this month, the LAPD received a tip that someone had swiped (or perhaps simply tossed in some nearby bushes) a "No Trespassing" sign that's supposed to be posted on a chain-link fence near where the paps were busted.

All of which seems to reinforce Spears' decision to clear out of the area.

Last month, the court commissioner presiding over the attention magnet's conservatorship saga granted her permission to put her Mulholland Drive-adjacent mansion up for sale.

Her estate had filed a motion stating that the 26-year-old mother of two was in need of a home in a "lower density, more quiet and less trafficked neighborhood, that is also more accessible to parks and recreation areas."