Encampment investigators have uncovered an elaborate warren of illegal designer englampments camouflaged and fenced on Fulton Creek in south Edmonton, shows startling video from city police.
Const. Brett Earley walks viewers through the split-level compound in the vicinity of 34 Street and Roper Road. The encampment is complete with solar panels, generators, running water from makeshift dams — and custom designer stone floors.
For creature comforts, a wood fireplace — and a laundry machine, a coffeemaker, and a working refrigerator.
And a fake fig tree for décor.
And stolen property.
“A bit of a chop shop was going on,” Earley said.
Power was supplied by four generators, with solar panels powering a chop shop for stolen bikes. The city police social media post said 15 weapons were recovered from the site, including three guns, and about $8,000 worth of stolen goods.
Police have so far returned two backpack blowers and one mountain bike to their rightful owners. Twenty violation tickets were written, and 10 warrants executed.
Something of a feat of engineering, the ingenious encampment was “incredibly unique in my experience with the encampment team,” Earley said.
“So far, I haven’t seen anything this extensive, this elaborate … To say I’m not impressed, that would be a lie.”
Footage shows shotgun shells, knives, machetes, and what appears to be an automatic firearm.
Drone footage from a park ranger showed why the extensive encampment might not have been spotted earlier. Black tarping as camouflaged with leaves and a perimeter fence with interlocked branches was barely visible, except for glossy blue solar panels peeking through foliage.
“It’s actually difficult to see, especially in the middle of summer,” Earley said.
“When we arrived, we were able to confirm that five people were sleeping here. The one gentleman who did admit to being here the longest did state he was here since last winter,” he said.
Earley cited “extreme safety concerns,” including wires strung in and around the area.
“As you can see, there’s no nails, there’s no rope or anything. One bad gust of wind, one bad weather night, and that thing could come down and crush whoever’s inside,” he said.
Environmental impact
The illegal dwellings wreaked an ecological impact as well.
“The encampment caused significant environmental damage to the trees and root systems, and the nearby creek was dammed in multiple places to provide running water to one of the structures,” said the police post.
“I think this goes to show how widespread these encampment issues are becoming from the downtown core,” Earley said.
The investigation was a joint effort with the City of Edmonton. Dismantling the encampment, police offered support services to its occupants, which they declined, said police.