Aurora, Colorado Mayor Mike Coffman announced on Friday that the city is starting the process of clearing the apartment buildings where transnational armed gang Tren de Aragua has taken over.
In a statement posted to Facebook, Coffman shared “the Aurora City Attorney’s Office is preparing court documents to request an emergency court order to clear the apartment buildings where Venezuelan gang activity has been occurring by declaring the properties a ‘Criminal Nuisance.’”
“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. In the meantime, the law enforcement task force set up to disrupt and arrest Venezuelan gang members in these buildings will continue its operation. I strongly believe that the best course of action is to shut these building[s] down and make sure that this never happens again,” concluded Coffman.
One has already been picked up. In an email to Fox News Digital, Aurora Police Department confirmed that Tren de Aragua leader “Cookie Monster” is currently in custody in relation to a shooting on July 28.
Advertisement
Fox 31 reports that the men seen in the video that has gone viral are armed members of the Tren de Aragua gang, according to Department of Homeland Security sources.
FORMER COLORADO APARTMENT RESIDENT SAYS GOV. POLIS ‘WOULDN’T LAST FIVE MINUTES’ AGAINST ARMED GANGS
The move to apprehend the armed Venezuelan gang members comes after a blitz of national media attention on the city of Aurora thanks to the efforts of Council Member Danielle Jurinsky.
After assisting residents Cindy and Edward Romero on Wednesday, they were able to share a video which has since gone viral online and on the air.
Jurinsky was soon featured on the Ingraham Angle telling the Romeros’ story, and Cindy Romero joined America Reports on Friday to bring attention to the problem.
Advertisement
Colorado Governor Jared Polis has come under fire for his handling of the situation, including from Romero herself, saying the Democrat “wouldn’t last five minutes” in the building. His spokesperson, Shelby Weiman, told the New York Post on Thursday that the issue was “largely a feature of Danielle Jurinsky’s imagination.”
After a request for comment from Fox News Digital in response to Romero’s statement on America Reports, the governor’s office responded by saying “Colorado is a zero-tolerance state for illegal activity.”
COLORADO CITY COUNCIL MEMBER FIRES BACK AFTER GOVERNOR’S OFFICE DISMISSES ARMED GANG TAKEOVER AS ‘IMAGINATION’
“The Governor hopes that the city of Aurora shares this basic value and will enforce the law. Over the last month, Governor Polis has been in regular contact with the City of Aurora and the Aurora Police Department and has offered all state assistance to support their efforts if requested,” said spokeswoman Shelby Wieman.
“If Danielle Jurinsky has evidence of illegal activity in Aurora that can assist the investigation, it might even be illegal for her to withhold it from the Aurora Police Department and she should file a report immediately. The state has been ready for weeks to back up any operation by the Aurora Police Department needed to make Aurora safer,” the statement concluded.
Advertisement
Colorado’s capital and largest city, Denver, is a sanctuary city. Aurora is a suburb of Denver.
The apartment building has been completely overrun by the alleged gang members, including changing the locks, according to one resident.(Council member Danielle Jurinsky)
Jurinsky noted she isn’t the only local official speaking out, though the governor’s office singles her out in statements. “There’s other council members speaking out on this, like there’s other council members speaking, and they just don’t have the platform that I do to really catch fire. But there are other council members speaking out. It’s not just me,” said Jurinsky in a call with Fox News Digital.
Polis’ office did not respond to a request to clarify whether the governor’s statement was intended to threaten Jurinsky.
Jurinsky celebrated in a call with Fox News Digital, saying “I am happy that what I have been saying is now confirmed. It is a shame that people had to suffer for as long as they did, but I am happy that this gang will now be addressed.”
Advertisement
Aurora City Council member Danielle Jurinsky moved out several residents from one taken over apartment building on Wednesday.(Danielle Jurinsky)
“I hope that in the future, I will be taken more seriously and heard the first time I bring something to someone’s attention. Aurora is my hometown and well worth the fight! Thank you to all of the police officers and residents who helped me bring this to light,” Jurinsky added.
It is unclear when exactly the armed gang members will be apprehended and the buildings will be cleared.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Denver did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Advertisement
Jasmine is a writer at Fox News Digital and a military spouse based in New Orleans. Stories can be sent to jasmine.baehr@fox.com
DENVER — As Colorado deals with bone-chilling temperatures and snow, fires continue to rage across Southern California.
At least five people have been killed and 70,000 people have evacuated, as of Thursday afternoon.
Officials said more than 1,000 structures have burned in the fires. The largest of the fires is the Palisades Fire, which has grown to about 12,000 acres in the affluent Pacific Palisades neighborhood.
Denver7 is speaking to Colorado agencies, some of whom have already been called to help battle the flames. While others say, they haven’t been asked to assist yet but are on standby in case they’re needed.
Advertisement
Colorado’s Division of Fire Prevention and Control said they are sending one of their Multi-Mission Aircraft (MMA) to California on Wednesday afternoon.
Ethan Swope/AP
People watch as the Eaton Fire engulfs a structure Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Altadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
The MMA can provide critical intelligence, images and communication capabilities. It can aid in making sound tactical decisions and improving the efficiency of the fire response.
Jeff Rasmussen, the MMA’s Program Manager said the aircraft helps battle fires in a unique way.
“When you’re on the ground on a fire, you’re only seeing what’s in front of you, and so what we provide is a full picture of what that fire is doing and what’s going on,” Rasmussen said.
Advertisement
He said the aircraft does this by utilizing infrared technology.
“With the infrared camera, one of our biggest advantages with that is, we’re able to see through smoke, right? And so the naked eye can’t see through smoke and be able to determine exactly where a fire perimeter is or which way it’s progressing. And so we’re able to do that with our infrared camera and map specifically where that fire edge is, you know, in relation to homes, structures or values at risk,” he added.
LA wildfire latest: 2 dead, thousands of structures destroyed
Advertisement
The fast-growing fire, Rasmussen said, is being highly influenced by the winds. “As far as wildfire goes, it’s probably, you know, worst case scenario,” he said.
Denver7 also spoke with Westminster Fire, crews there have not been requested to assist in California but are available.
Emily Peek, with Westminster Fire said they have 21 members on their wildland team that are deployable.
“If our team is requested, they have a two to three hour window where they have to activate for deployment. They then have to get to the other state as quickly as possible. Usually that’s driving with one of our apparatuses. But occasionally we will fly out the members as well. They then will be on a 14 day deployment, but can be extended up to 21 days,” Peek said.
Chris Pizzello/AP
Advertisement
A cyclist pedals past a burning structure on Lake Avenue, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in the downtown Altadena section of Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Although Peek added that it’s more likely they’d be sent to other states first – that have already been called to California.
“California has a really robust wildland program where they’re able to use a lot of in-state resources. If it exceeds that capability, they would first contact the surrounding states, and then it’s more likely that Westminster would be contacted to visit those surrounding states, to be on a backfill situation there,” Peek said.
Colorado crews that are heading to California now with the infrared technology said, they’re prepared to stay as long as needed and will check to see what other support is needed.
In the video player below, watch as a mom, daughter flee the wildfire.
Mom, daughter record video fleeing CA wildfire in car
Advertisement
Coloradans making a difference | Denver7 featured videos
Denver7 is committed to making a difference in our community by standing up for what’s right, listening, lending a helping hand and following through on promises. See that work in action, in the videos above.
This morning, a spot in Colorado was the coldest place in the continental United States.
The temperature hit a frigid -31° Fahrenheit in the area of Stub Creek, according to NOAA and reported on the morning of January 8. This creek is located in mountains found about 15 miles west of Red Feather Lakes in northern Colorado. The notorious Peter Sinks area of Utah tied this overnight temperature, as well.
The temperature in the area of Stub Creek was separated from the country’s warmest city by 109 degrees – Camp Pendleton (Oceanside), California and its temp of 78.
Advertisement
Cold temperatures hit much of the state overnight, with temperatures as low as -28° hitting Fraser Flats of Grand County. Meanwhile, much of the I-25 corridor experienced temperatures in the single-digits to low-teens.
See a National Weather Service map of recorded temperatures below, but note that Stub Creek is not included on this map.
Advertisement
Map: National Weather Service.
Cold weather is expected to continue in Colorado throughout much of the week.
Find additional weather information on the National Weather Service website.
Advertisement
STAY INFORMED: Get free Colorado news with our daily newsletter (Click here)
