Questions surface regarding control of troubled apartment complex in Aurora

AURORA, Colo. ( KDVR ) — The city of Aurora has slated another apartment for a cleanup in the wake of two others that had major code violations and issues with crime.

The latest complex to be slated for cleanup is the Whispering Pines apartment complex in the 1300 block of Helena Street, not far from Chambers and Colfax. On Tuesday, FOX31 cameras captured full trash bins. It’s not clear when they were last emptied.

The crew also found a number of boarded-up windows at Whispering Pines. The city of Aurora now says cleanup crews will make their way to Helena Street, after picking up a trash pile at another complex at Dallas Street and East 12th Avenue.

A wild shootout took place at the Edge at Lowry apartments Sunday night, leaving one person seriously hurt. Just last week Aurora shut down the Fitzsimmons complex after several code violations.

The police department has announced that a task force has been set up to investigate alleged Venezuelan gang activity. But, APD did not say if the gang was involved with any of the crimes at any of the troubled apartment complexes.

However, city council member Danielle Jurinsky told FOX31, she strongly believes there is organized crime at the complexes in question.

“I have several residents telling me that there’s a huge gang presence and they believe that their own complex has been taken over by these gangs. They tell me there is no staff left on site. They are living in fear and a couple of times with these different shootouts they have said they feel like they are living in a warzone,” Jurinsky said.

Two residents told FOX31 the same thing on a tour of one of the complexes Monday. James Allbee, a law enforcement expert, said proving that gang activity exists can be extremely difficult.

“Because they are undocumented it is going to be harder to identify them and they don’t really care because they don’t have id’s. They are going to be able to change their name,” Allbee said.

Allbee also said the gangs are many times are motivated by drugs money and human trafficking. A city spokesperson said there are a number of code issues they continue to investigate.

One of those complex cleanups will take place on Thursday. It is not clear when the new task force will be able to determine what type of impact the Venezuelan gang might be having there.

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