Aurora, Colorado, Mayor Mike Coffman announced Friday that the city will begin clearing an apartment building occupied by the international armed gang Tren de Aragua.
“The Aurora City Attorney's Office is preparing court documents to seek an emergency court order to declare an apartment complex where Venezuelan gang activity is occurring a 'criminal nuisance' and to evict the individuals involved,” Coffman said in a statement posted on Facebook.
“Therefore, it is necessary for a municipal court judge to issue an order aimed at returning these buildings to the control of their owners. In the meantime, the law enforcement task force established to interdict and apprehend Venezuelan gang members who are in these buildings will continue its work. I strongly believe that the best course of action is to close these buildings.”[s] “We need to stop this and make sure this never happens again,” Coffman concluded.
One arrest has already been made: In an email to Fox News Digital, the Aurora Police Department confirmed that Tren de Aragua leader, “Cookie Monster,” is currently in custody in connection with the July 28 shooting.
Fox 31 reports A Homeland Security source said the men seen in the viral video are armed members of the Tren de Aragua gang.
Former Colorado apartment resident says Governor Polis 'wouldn't last five minutes' against armed gang
The move to arrest armed Venezuelan gang members comes after national media attention was focused on the city of Aurora, thanks to the efforts of City Councilman Daniel Jurinski.
After assisting residents Cindy and Edward Romero on Wednesday, they managed to share the video, which has since gone viral online and on air.
Jurinski quickly began telling the Romeros' story on The Ingram Angle, and Cindy Romero appeared on America Report on Friday to draw attention to the issue.
Colorado Governor Jared Polis has come under fire for his handling of the situation, with Romero himself saying he “wouldn't last five minutes in this building.” His spokesman, Shelby Wyman, told the New York Post on Thursday that the issue “has a lot to do with Daniel Jurinski's imagination.”
In response to a request for comment from Fox News Digital about Governor Romero's comments on America Report, the governor's office said, “Colorado is a state with zero tolerance for illegal activity.”
Colorado city councilman responds to governor's dismissal of armed gang takeover as 'imagination'
“The Governor expects the City of Aurora to share these core values and enforce the law. Over the past month, Governor Polis has been in regular contact with the City of Aurora and the Aurora Police Department and has offered statewide assistance to support their efforts, if requested,” spokeswoman Shelby Wieman said.
“If Danielle Jurinski has evidence of illegal activity in Aurora that would aid in the investigation, she should file a report immediately as it may be unlawful for her to conceal it from the Aurora Police Department. The state has stood ready, for several weeks, to support the Aurora Police Department in any efforts necessary to make Aurora safer,” the statement concluded.
Denver, Colorado's capital and largest city, is a sanctuary city. Aurora is a suburb of Denver.
One resident said the apartment had been completely taken over by suspected gang members and the locks had been changed. (Councillor Daniel Jurinski)
Jurinski noted that while the governor's office specifically singled her out in the statement, she is not the only one speaking out. “There are other city council members who are speaking out about this. There are other city council members, but they don't have the platform that I have to really get on fire, but there are other city council members who are speaking out. I'm not the only one,” Jurinski said in a phone interview with Fox News Digital. “I'm not the only one.”
Governor Polis' office did not respond to a request to clarify whether the governor's comments were intended to intimidate Jurinski.
“I'm happy that what I've been saying is now vindicated,” Jurinski said in a phone interview with Fox News Digital. “It's unfortunate that people had to suffer for so long, but I'm happy that this gang thing is now solved.”
Aurora City Councilman Daniel Jurinski on Wednesday evicted several residents from an occupied apartment building. (Daniel Jurinski)
“I hope that from now on, when I come forward with a complaint I will be taken more seriously and listened to. Aurora is my home and it's well worth fighting for. I'd like to thank the officers and residents who helped bring this case to light,” Jurinski added.
It is unclear when the armed gang members will be arrested and the buildings cleared.
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The Denver office of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
