By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice
Aurora police are monitoring whether an “international day of protest” Saturday related to the Venezuelan presidential election might lead to protests in Aurora, they posted this week on Twitter/X.
“We want our community to know we are actively monitoring the situation due to recent events in our city,” the APD post reads.
Aurora police also monitored a large assembly of people on the night of the Venezuelan election, July 28, near Havana Street and Mississippi Avenue, which some detail became lawless.
As many commented in response to Aurora police on X, the “recent events” were criticized by some in the media as far-right conspiracy with claims of the events not occurring. One of those involves disagreement on the reason an apartment complex was closed by the city in the 1500 block of Nome Street.
John Fabbricatore, a former ICE field office director and candidate for U.S. Representative, posted on X: “The crime is the city’s problem. Shutting the building down won’t stop the crime in the area.” He has questioned whether Aurora officials are being honest in regards to the reason for the shutdown.
“I have proof that the landlord passed three inspections last year,” Fabbricatore wrote on X, perhaps leading to the idea the building was closed in relation to Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.
Also, Danielle Jurinsky, a member of the Aurora City Council, has been vocal on the issue.
“There may be another large gathering in Aurora on Saturday. The last one was roughly [4,000] people,” Jurinsky wrote on X. “Our officers are aware of this, being transparent with the public, and are taking proactive measures. The lawless behavior will not be tolerated again. Stand strong, APD, we support you!”
Aurora police say they have been unable to confirm a protest will take place Saturday.
“We’re going to be upstaging on Saturday in preparation for any events to happen in Aurora, although we have no information that anything would actually occur here,” acting Deputy Chief Chris Juul told FOX31’s Alliyah Sims.
Aurora police say they will update through X and other social media, if they learn a protest will take place.
Meanwhile, detail on the activity of Tren de Aragua in Aurora continues to unfold.
“The city knew that the gang problem was getting worse. They stood back, and the problem got worse,” Fabbricatore wrote. “It was easier for the city and PD to close the building than actually go in and arrest gang members and criminals. Ninety percent of the arrests would have been illegal aliens, and that would have been bad optics and a narrative they didn’t want.”
Fabbricatore has also reported Tren de Aragua has control of multiple apartment buildings in Aurora. The gang is believed to have membership of 5,000 in America.
Additionally, John “Tig” Tiegen, known as the co-author of “13 Hours”, also claims the building has been seized by Tren de Aragua, detailing a double-shooting of which he was on-scene.
“The apartment is under complete control of the TDA [Tren de Aragua] and they are extorting the residents,” Tiegen wrote on X on Aug. 11. “The DEA has intel of fully automatic rifles & militia grade military equipment in their control. …TDA functions more like a trained militia than a street gang. I personally know APD street officers who are afraid of the TDA, which says a lot. The Aurora city officials have been silent on the true extent of the TDA currently.”
Tiegen added on X: “I have heard from APD officers they have TDA members running from them every other day, it seems like, with fully-automatic rifles/guns.”
On Venezuelan election night, Jurinsky reported a “takeover” of the area near Havana Street and Mississippi Avenue, with Venezuelan flags being flown.
“The streets were shut down. There are reports of assaults, theft and gunshots in the air,” she wrote on X. “Thousands of these folks took over and completely shut down a part of our city. The police were totally over run and were forced to get out of the area for their safety.”