Cops To Clear Apartments ‘Overrun’ With Venezuelan Gangs

Police in Colorado are set to clear an apartment complex that was “overrun” with Venezuelan gangs after the mayor said he would request an emergency court order to free the buildings of organized criminal activity.
Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman announced on Friday that the City Attorney’s Office will seek legal assistance to have the properties designated as a criminal nuisance.
It comes after footage emerged online of the gang storming the apartment complex. Former president Donald Trump said at a campaign rally Friday that the town had been “overrun”.
“This will require a municipal judge to issue the order with the goal of getting these properties back under the control of the property owners,” Coffman said in a post on Facebook.
“I strongly believe the best course of action is to shut these [buildings] down and make sure this never happens again,” he said on social media.
Footage that emerged on social media shows men with assault rifles making their way up a stairwell and before breaking down doors of The Edge at Lowry apartments.
The men are reportedly the Venezuelan gang known as Tren de Aragua (TdA), who were reportedly operating in the area.
The group focuses on human trafficking and other abuses targeting vulnerable migrants. The gang is accused of smuggling women and girls for sexual exploitation.
TdA originated as a prison gang in Aragua, Venezuela, but has rapidly expanded in recent years, according to the U.S. Department of State.
Aurora Police Department Interim Chief Heather Morris said in a statement on Friday that “gang members have not taken over” the complex.
“I’m not saying that there aren’t gang members that don’t live in this community,” Morris said. “But what we’re learning out here is that gang members have not taken over this complex.”
Aurora Police Department Interim Chief Morris stated that officers have been present in the area and at the complex to gather information from residents. She noted that the officers have discovered there is “definitely a different picture” of what is happening.
Morris stated that the local authorities have “really made an effort” in recent days to ask specific questions about gang activity in the area and at the complex.
“Making sure that people aren’t paying rent to gang leaders or gang members,” she said.
According to Morris, the residents they’ve spoken with have assured them that this isn’t happening, and she believes they are being honest.
“We’re standing out here, and I can tell you that gang members have not taken over this complex.”
Aurora’s police department said on Thursday that it had set up a task force to deal with concerns about the migrant criminal activity in the area.
“We are aware that components of TdA are operating in Aurora. APD has been increasingly collecting evidence to show the gang is connected to crimes in the area,” the department said.
In July, a man was arrested in connection with a shooting in Aurora. He was a known member of the TdA, according to the Aurora Police Department.
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