Fort Collins police and other city agencies removed a large illegal encampment from an area near Old Town on Tuesday after they say they issued multiple warnings over several months.
Since then, police say officers contacted the occupants on multiple occasions to notify them of the city's camping ordinance "and offering assistance to connect them with services that are designed to help those who are unhoused.
Police say the camp had been a source of criminal activity over about five months, including recreation violations, disturbances, stolen bicycles, harboring runaway juveniles, and other public health and safety violations. The department's Homeless Outreach and Proactive Engagement HOPE team made multiple prior attempts to clean up the camp and had previously cited the occupants of the camp various times, according to the news release.
The last notice to clean up the camp and clear the area was provided Jan. During the camp removal, police say they recovered:. Four individuals were arrested on a total of 19 warrants, according to police, including two warrants issued for individuals inhabiting the area on multiple municipal misdemeanor charges, including camping on public property, accumulation of rubbish, damage or removal of objects in a recreation area, releasing hazardous substance in a recreation area, and discharging a pollutant onto public property, according to the news release.
Fort Collins police spokesperson J Gilmore said police have been "actively addressing the encampment since it was reported," which has included issuing citations and attempting to clean up the camp at different times.
