Colorado Springs police finish weeklong operation to clear out, clean up large homeless gathering spot south of downtown
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO)-- The Homeless Outreach Team (HOT) with the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) worked to curb illegal activity under the Interstate 25 overpass between Nevada Avenue and Tejon Street at the Park and Ride on Tejon Street, following multiple citizen complaints.
The HOT stated that they have been receiving citizen complaints for several months about ongoing illegal activity among people experiencing homelessness, and others involved in more undesirable behavior such as camping, trespassing, drug possession and littering.
According to some estimates, 100 or more people regularly gathered under the overpass, day and night, with some pitching tents and sleeping there.
"I've noticed that the people hanging out are growing (in number," said Morris Delfino, who works in a government program to help provide free cell phones to the homeless. "I don't know if it's because of the heat and there's shade here. I notice that they feed people sometimes on the weekends here. When a few people find a good spot, word spreads quickly."
The location is the same as the Park and Ride lot at 1305 S. Tejon Street, which serves as a stop for city buses, the regional Bustang route and Greyhound.
Many of the customers, according to CSPD, expressed their concerns for safety while using the ride service.
In response, the HOT stated that they contacted many of the violators, referring many of them to nearby resources, cited others for trespassing when appropriate, and made several drug-related arrests.
Due to a “noticeable increase in activity” the HOT conducted a six-day report in order to address the safety concerns of the citizens using the Park and Ride service in that area.
Between Wednesday, July 19, and Tuesday, July 25, the HOT reported obtaining the following results:
- 59 citations for trespassing
- 19 “various-related” misdemeanor charges
- 7 drug-related charges
- 1 arrest for distribution of fentanyl
- 2 persons of interests in 2 unrelated crimes against children cases located
- 12 felony warrants and 79 misdemeanor charges cleared
The suspect arrested for fentanyl is Curtis Taylor, 60.
Police said that the Code Enforcement’s Quality of Life Team is assisting with regular cleanups for the Park and Ride area -- including 48 truck loads of trash being disposed of within that six-day time period.
The Code Enforcement’s Graffiti Removal Team also assisted in removing much of the graffiti under the Park and Ride.
Donald Cook discussed the situation Wednesday while waiting to take the Bustang to his home in Lamar; he occasionally travels to Colorado Springs for medical care.
“I really felt bad for a lot of (the homeless)," he said. "Where else can they go? So, you just go where you can. I ain’t gonna be judgmental. Give ‘em the benefit of a doubt. I was wondering, doesn’t anyone care? I know care goes both sides of the street.”
Megan Crosby said that she's been homeless for ten years because of twice losing jobs at restaurants that closed, and past legal trouble; she questions the need for the police operation.
“Really, what we come here for, are the benches," she explained. "They took the picnic tables. We have nowhere to sit out, even. They took the porta-potties, they took the dumpsters. We have nothing. We come over here to sit down sometimes, and we get arrested for it.”
HOT Officers stated they will continue to monitor the area as they work to reduce illegal activity there.
