Aurora Police and Residents Respond to Alleged Footage of Venezuelan Gang Presence at Apartment Complex (UPDATE)

UPDATED 9/4, 9:23 a.m. ET: A gang takeover at an apartment complex? Not exactly, so say residents and local police alike in Aurora.

This week, per regional outlet KMGH-TV, tenants at the complex in question, known as Edge at Lowry, pushed back against the social media narrative that’s been spurred by footage alleging to show the Tren de Aragua gang. In fact, one tenant said the “completely false” takeover claims that have been widely circulated have actually only made the situation worse.

“I’m scared to go out,” one tenant was quoted as saying, adding that “all of us at the complex” are now being accused of being affiliated with gangs. Others fear evictions, while multiple tenants have pointed to the subpar conditions of the facility and related issues as what actually deserves attention here.

This is in line with prior comments from local police, as Interim Aurora Police Chief Heather Morris previously disputed claims of the complex having been actually “taken over.”

In August, Denver-based outlet Westword reported that an area judge had pushed back a trial against the owner of the complex, named in the report as Zev Baumgarten. Citing court docs, the publication said last week that Baumgarten had been accused of a litany of code violations related to another property that was recently closed, forcing residents into eviction. Among the listed alleged issues that led to the shutdown of that property were rat infestations and and sewage problems.

Mentioned in the report is that the CBZ Management company, which manages multiple properties in the state and is said to be registered to Baumgarten, hired a public relations firm out of Florida. That firm, reportedly Red Banyan, is self-described on its official site as providing "crisis communications" services.

See original story below.

The police in Aurora, Colorado have responded to the concerns of a Venezuelan gang taking over an apartment complex.

In a video released by the City of Aurora, Interim Police Chief Heather Morris and a group of officers are shown at the complex meeting with residents to get to the center of the story that’s been sweeping the internet recently.

"We're out here because we care," Morris said. "We want to reassure the people who live in this community that we are actively investigating criminal activity and listening to them."

Last week, a video of a group of people carrying guns and going inside apartments at a complex in Aurora went viral. Shortly after the video's release, Department of Homeland Security sources were claimed to have confirmed that the people in the video were members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.

On Friday (Aug. 29), the City of Aurora released a public statement confirming the gang’s involvement.

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

A couple of days before that, the Aurora Police Department revealed that they were aware of what was going on as well.

“We are aware that components of TdA are operating in Aurora,” the statement reads. “APD has been increasingly collecting evidence to show the gang is connected to crimes in the area. However, as we have said previously and as the DEA similarly stated, it would be improper at this time for the city and APD to make any conclusory statements about specific incidents or provide details about law enforcement strategy and operations.”

Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman has announced that the Attorney’s Office in Aurora City will request an emergency court order to clear out the apartment buildings.