Anchorage Police Issue Citations to Illegal Homeless Campers

Teams of officers went into the woods citywide, issuing notices to illegal campers and also providing them with options.

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By Corey Allen-Young
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Story Created: May 24, 2011 at 2:46 PM AKDT

Story Updated: May 24, 2011 at 2:46 PM AKDT

Monday night, Anchorage police took the first step in clearing out illegal camping sites.

As part of the department’s push to make a dent into the crime that is happening in these illegal camps, teams of officers went into the woods citywide to issue notices to illegal campers and also to provide them with options.

Armed with notices, Anchorage police are responding to the city's growing number of illegal camps and campers who have tents in parks and wooded areas across town.

Part of Monday’s mission was to go into the woods of Chester Creek Park, locate the camps, and offer assistance to the injured, disabled, and mentally unstable people who live there.

“There’s a lot of people who are out there that are truly homeless and there’s some people out there that just use this ground to hold parties and use drugs,” said Anchorage Police Officer Mark Karstetter.

Police say that kind of dangerous behavior in public places jeopardize the safety of park and trail patrons.

“Most people don't realize the refuse that gets left behind here—the raw sewage, the beer bottles, broken glass,” Officer Karstetter continued.

Assaults, trash, honey buckets and even dead moose have been found at some of these camps, and police say it’s a safety hazard.

One camper said he was living in the woods because his “time was up” living at a shelter.

APD officers offered campers connections to long-term housing and temporary shelter.

The illegal campers have 15 business days from the date of receiving notice to clear out their possessions from the campsite.

The illegal campers who were warned and cited can appeal the citation.

APD could confirm if a non-profit or any other agency will be responsible for storing campers’ possessions.

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little bookworm said on Tuesday, May 24 at 4:33 PM

i've been helping with the "may clean-up" at bean's cafe. i picked up _3_ large bags of mixed trash just from around the _inside_ of the fences that face karluk street, between 3rd and 4th ave. some of it was "normal" trash from fast-food, but most of it was from brown jug, and there was a pair of un-saveable pants. today, i "collected" from bean's cafe to mush inn and found a used needle that could have been used for medicine or illegal drugs. muldoon road is so litterized close to fred meyer and the chinese buffet that if u flew over that spot in an airplane, it would look like chickenpox! thank you apd and citywide cleaners, all 3 hospitals, and each of our 30 day eat & sleeps for your help in preserving our people and parks. oh and thank you csp for constantly scooping-up people all year.

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unknown said on Sunday, May 29 at 11:31 AM

Leave the campers alone before they turn into a militia. The last thing we is for our cops to get hurt over something stupid.

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