But Derek Brown remains under court orders to live in the complex with electronic monitoring to ensure he does not wander more than 150 feet away.

The new owner Walter Wells says he will commit to honoring every single fix-up order issued by the City of Des Moines. Workers began work Monday at the Allison Park Apartments in Des Moines.

'This Is A Rough Place'

The new owner told KOMO 4 News he wants Brown gone. "It's a distraction for my tenants, it is a distraction for me and it would be best if this was taken care of somewhere else between the city and him," he said.

Brown's wife, Perry, agrees, saying she feels considerable anger in the area of the apartment her husband is not allowed to leave.

"I feel this is a great liability to the city, if something were to happen to him," she said. "This is a rough place, ask anybody."

Perry Brown says the city has what it wants: The complex has been sold and the new owner is acting quickly to fix up the apartments. She says there is no reason to detain her husband.

"I want him home with our family," she said. The new owner added: "I would like him to be gone, yes!"

The city says a judge must find that there is a valid sale and that the complex will, in fact, be fixed up. The next available court date was said to be Monday. Until then, Brown will apparently have to stay at the apartment house.