Stop spinning and politicizing criminal gang activity in Aurora and just deal with it

Colorado politicians and some media outlets are so afraid that reports of suspected members of the Tren de Aragua gang will fuel irrational fears among all migrants that they are trying to cover up criminal activity.

And now, the ambiguous and ridiculous complaints about gang members causing serious problems in three apartment complexes in Aurora have caused the situation to repeat itself in spectacular fashion and become a real hype on social media.

Things went downhill after the governor’s office dismissed reports from an Aurora councilwoman as fabrications. Others squabbled over what it meant to suggest gangs had taken over.

The Aurora, Colorado, councilman who leaked videos of heavily armed Venezuelan gang members storming an apartment says several apartment buildings in the Denver area have been completely taken over.

What is this America like in 2024? photo.twitter.com/P5rUYOFEgC

— Kevin Dalton (@TheKevinDalton) August 30, 2024

The back and forth between executives and some of the media reporting is so confusing that it’s no wonder people are confused and believe the worst they read on social media.

Now an old video has surfaced of bikers in Sturgis, South Dakota claiming they are Hell Angels coming to Colorado to save the day! There was also a weekend bike rally in Durango, a six hour drive from Aurora.

Much of the blame for the out-of-control situation certainly lies with the Democrats and their media friends, who chose to politicize the problem and turn it into an immigration issue rather than acknowledge and address immigrant crime as it happens.

Police on Saturday finally confirmed that the man arrested in connection with a July 28 shooting at one of the Nome Street apartment buildings is Jhonardy Jose Pacheco-Chirino, also known as “Cookie,” and a documented member of the dangerous Venezuelan gang.

PERRY: Aurora officials must address Venezuelan gang hysteria caused by shady politicians and media propagandists

‘horrific attempt to terrorize Aurora residents in hopes of convincing voters to support anti-immigration candidates’https://t.co/nxoTPx0MvA#copolitics #TdA photo.twitter.com/uv0OXonOtG

— Sentinel Colorado (@SentinelColo) September 1, 2024

The extended version on YouTube of Kyle Clark 9News’ interview with Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman on Thursday included important information for residents:

At the Dallas Street apartment complex, “criminal elements have forced out the property manager and are (extorting) tenants in the building,” Coffman said. “There are two to three buildings where that is happening, where we have ongoing operations in those buildings.”

When asked if a gang actually has control over these spaces, Coffman responded:

“There is a criminal element to the control. And it is difficult because they have intimidated the residents of the building. But we can still make arrests.”

“Whether it’s Tren de Aragua or other criminal elements doing this is irrelevant,” Coffman said. “The fact is we’re working to get this under control.”

Is the whole city taken over by gangs? Of course not. Don’t believe every video you see on X. Colorado has not been invaded by a Venezuelan gang or Hell’s Angels.

“I’m not minimizing this incident. It’s a serious incident, but it’s not the entire city,” Coffman said.

But Clark continued to nitpick:

“When you hear, you know, a gang has taken over an apartment complex, that can mean different things to different people, right? There’s a takeover in terms of, Aurora, the police aren’t allowed to go there. And then there’s a takeover in terms of, they’re extorting money from residents and scaring people and things like that. If I understand you correctly, correct me. If I’m wrong, you’re saying it’s not a takeover in the sense that it’s a no-go zone for APD, but that they’re controlling the residents in a way that’s unacceptable?”

It is clear to everyone but Clark that a gang has taken over the apartment complexes and that residents have been extorted for money, harassed and even assaulted, as in the July shooting.

I wonder if the residents can tell the difference between when their apartment building has been taken over by a Venezuelan gang and when the residents of the building are merely being extorted and harassed by a Venezuelan gang?

Maybe @KyleClark can explain the difference to them.

— Karl Dierenbach (@Dierenbach) August 31, 2024

And yet just two days later, Aurora’s interim police chief stood in front of the camera in that same Dallas Street apartment building and said that the residents had been thoroughly questioned by police and that the residents denied that they had been harassed by gang members who happened to live in the building.

APD officers proactively patrol areas where TdA activities are suspected.

Today, Interim Chief Heather Morris and several officers reached out to residents of The Edge at Lowry apartments at Dallas Street and 12th Avenue to provide reassurance and updates… photo.twitter.com/sOYSWW8aHk

— Aurora Police Department (@AuroraPD) August 31, 2024

Meanwhile, Polis appeared to back off his sarcastic comments, issuing the following statement Friday night:

When it takes Governor Jared Polis 3 DAYS to figure out that real Venezuelan gangs are taking over Aurora#copolitics photo.twitter.com/zfbSIDuMbY

— Spicy memes (@uncommonspice) September 2, 2024

All politicians would do well to prioritize public safety issues over partisan politics, while some media outlets would be better off with real journalists rather than immigration activists posing as such.