AURORA, Colorado – Aurora has been in the national spotlight over unconfirmed reports of a Venezuelan gang occupying an apartment building after a video showing a group of armed men in an apartment complex circulated online.

The department released a video Friday of officers speaking with residents of The Edge in the Lowry apartment complex at 1218 Dallas Street. It is one of several buildings at the center of concerns about the alleged activities of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua (TdA).

However, Aurora’s acting police chief Heather Morris said in an interview provided by police that officers had found no evidence of a gang takeover.

“We’ve spoken to the residents here and learned from them exactly what’s going on. And it’s definitely a different picture. I’m not saying there aren’t gang members in this community, but what we’re learning here is that this facility hasn’t been taken over by gang members,” Morris said.

Still, Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman said the city is seeking an injunction to shut down apartment buildings that he says have been overrun by the Venezuelan gang, declaring the buildings criminal nuisances.

Coffman said the apartments where gang activity is occurring are all owned by the same owner, who had a history of building code violations and criminal activity before the refugee crisis.

Despite unsubstantiated allegations of gang takeovers, Denver metropolitan area police agencies, including APD, confirmed that TdA is active in the metropolitan area, and the City of Aurora said it takes the threat seriously.

“Yes, we are concerned that there is a small Tren de Aragua (TdA) presence in Aurora, and we take this seriously. We have responded. We have made arrests. We will continue to make arrests. We will continue to address the problems that the absentee, out-of-town owners of these properties have allowed to fester unchecked. Aurora will aggressively pursue all actions available under city and criminal law,” the city said in a statement.

A TdA member named Jhonardy Jose Pacheco-Chirino was arrested last month in connection with a double shooting at 1568 Nome Street in Aurora. He is currently in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Another high-profile crime in the Denver metropolitan area involved four Venezuelan nationals who were arrested in El Paso, Texas, in June in connection with an armed robbery of a Denver jewelry store.

Governor Jared Polis released a statement on social media saying the state is ready to offer any assistance to APD if requested.

“Colorado is a state that has zero tolerance for illegal activity. Building takeovers have no place in Colorado, and I am confident that the City of Aurora shares that core value and will enforce the law when it is violated there. I urge them to do so quickly and thoroughly. Over the past month, I have been in regular contact with the City of Aurora and the Aurora Police Department and have offered any state support to support their efforts when requested. The state has stood ready for weeks to support any Aurora Police Department operation needed to make Aurora safer,” Polis said.

Activists told Denver7 that national attention to TdA’s presence in Colorado could harm immigrants who have no connection to the gang.

Nate Kassa, community organizer with the East Colfax Community Collective, said the headlines will make life more difficult for the vast majority of immigrants who have recently arrived in Colorado and have nothing to do with TdA.

“To me, this screams racism. To me, this screams exploiting a political opportunity to stir up hatred against immigrants,” Kassa said.

Aurora police investigating allegations that Venezuelan gang took over complex