EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KKTV) – El Paso County deputies cleared out an illegal homeless encampment along Highway 24 last month.
El Paso County deputies said on March 10 that they received reports of a homeless encampment near mile marker 297 along Highway 24, between Manitou Springs and Green Mountain Falls in unincorporated El Paso County.
Deputies said area residents reported signs of illegal camping, including large amounts of trash being dumped near the encampment.
One resident reported that individuals from the camp had repeatedly trespassed on private property, deputies said.
Deputies said they responded to the area the following day but did not locate anyone at the campsite.
Deputies said they posted notices to “vacate” throughout the encampment area, along with information about available community resources for people experiencing homelessness.
Deputies said on March 25, El Paso County Code Enforcement returned to the location with its contractor, Junk King, to clean and restore the area. Deputies responded to assist code enforcement due to the possibility that the encampment could still be occupied.
During the cleanup effort, deputies said, crews discovered a man-made structure made of tree limbs and other evidence of illegal camping on an adjacent plateau.
Man-made structure found by deputies March 25(El Paso County Sheriff’s Office)
Deputies said the operation removed enough trash and debris to fill a small roll-off dumpster.
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