Encampment outside of Calgary removed after allegations of violence, crime

A collaborative safety operation involving the Calgary Police Service, Okotoks Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Foothills County p0eace officers has resulted in the removal of an encampment located just outside Calgary city limits. (CPS handouts)

An encampment outside of Calgary has been removed after complaints about crime and an incident in which one of the occupants allegedly threatened a road maintenance worker with a knife.

The encampment was located about a kilometre outside city limits on private rural land near 210 Avenue and 64 Street S.W.

Police say they’d received “numerous” calls about the encampment between Jan. 1 and March 1, including reports of unsafe behaviour and suspicious people.

• The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App

Individuals from the encampment had reportedly chased or struck passing vehicles and, in one case, allegedly threatened someone with a knife, police said.

Calgary police, in a joint effort with RCMP and peace officers from Foothills County, headed to the site on March 23, at which time one person in the encampment was arrested on outstanding warrants and for trespassing.

Police say crews returned to the site the next day and found the same person back in the encampment.

He was arrested for breaching the conditions of his release.

The encampment has since been removed.

Police say during the cleanup, they removed four trailer loads of debris.

Four knives were also seized.

“Violence and unsafe behaviour will not be tolerated, and we are grateful to our partner agencies for their commitment to working together to keep our communities safe,” said District 8 Staff Sgt. Graeme Smiley in a Wednesday news release.