APD is investigating the claim of a Venezuelan gang taking over an apartment building

AURORA, Colo. — Aurora has been in the national spotlight due to unconfirmed reports of a Venezuelan gang taking over an apartment building after a video showing a group of armed men inside an apartment complex went viral.

The department shared a video Friday of officers interacting with residents of The Edge at the Lowry apartment complex, located at 1218 Dallas Street. It is one of several buildings at the center of concerns about the alleged activity of the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua (TdA) gang.

However, Acting Aurora Police Chief Heather Morris said in a police interview that officers found no evidence of a gang takeover.

“We talked to the residents here and learned from them to find out what exactly is going on. And there is definitely a different picture. I’m not saying there aren’t gang members that don’t live in this community, but what we’re finding here is that gang members have not taken over this complex,” Morris said.

Still, Aurora Mayor Mike Kaufman said the city is seeking an emergency court order to close the apartment buildings he claims have been overtaken by the Venezuelan gang, declaring them a criminal nuisance.

Kaufman said the apartments that have seen gang activity are all under the same ownership that had multiple code violations and criminal activity that led to the migrant crisis.

Despite unsubstantiated claims of gang takeovers, metro Denver police agencies, including APD, have confirmed TdA is operating in the metro area, and the city of Aurora has said they take the threat seriously.

“Yes, we are concerned that there is a small Tren de Aragua (TdA) presence in Aurora, and we have taken it seriously. We have responded. We have made arrests. We will continue to make arrests. We will continue to address the issues that absentee owners, from out of state, of these properties allowed them to aggravate them, Aurora will aggressively pursue all available actions under city code and criminal statute,” the city said in a statement.

A TdA member, identified as Jhonardy Jose Pacheco-Chirino, was arrested last month in connection with a double shooting at 1568 Nome St. in Aurora. He is currently in the custody of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Another high-profile murder in the Denver metro area involved four Venezuelan nationals who were arrested in El Paso, Texas, in connection with an armed robbery of a jewelry store in Denver in June.

Governor Jared Polis posted a statement on social media saying the state is ready to provide any APD assistance if requested.

“Colorado is a zero tolerance state for illegal activity, building takeovers have no place in Colorado, and I am confident that the City of Aurora shares this core value and will enforce the law if it is violated there. I urge them to do this quickly and thoroughly. Over the past month, I have been in regular contact with the City of Aurora and the Aurora Police Department and have offered any and all assistance to the state to support their efforts if requested. The state has been prepared for weeks to support any Aurora Police Department operation necessary to make Aurora safer.” Polis said.

Activists told Denver7 that national attention on TdA’s presence in Colorado could harm immigrants who are not associated with the gang.

Nate Kassa, a community organizer for the East Colfax Community Collective, said the titles make life more difficult for the vast majority of immigrants who recently came to Colorado and have nothing to do with TdA.

“That screams ‘racist’ to me.” It screams to me that they are seizing a political opportunity to push hate against immigrants,” Kassa said.

Aurora police are investigating claims of a Venezuelan gang takeover of the complex