AURORA, Colo. (KDVR) — Aurora’s police chief spoke on Wednesday for the first time after a troubled apartment complex The Edge at Lowry was shut down.

The complex officially closed Tuesday morning after the court order called the complex an “immediate threat to public safety.” The complex gained notoriety after a video of armed men in a stairwell who entered an apartment and were implicated in a deadly shooting went viral, raising concerns about Tren de Aragua gang activity at the location.

APD Chief Todd Chamberlain spoke inside the last unit to be boarded up at The Edge at Lowry. And he said there was a reason for that.

“Why I was so compelled to be here in this venue and this location is because this is where humans lived,” Chamberlain said. “To try and bring some clarity and reality to what this situation has been for the city of Aurora and more importantly for people who have had to suffer at this location.”

It was the first time police let media into these apartments, getting an up-close look at the conditions like rotting wood, structural holes, an infestation of roaches, hanging wire causing a fire hazard and much more.

“I’ve been in some of the most complex housing projects in the nation and I have not seen anything as despicable and mismanaged and as crime-ridden as what we were dealing with in this complex,” Chamberlain said.

The chief first blamed CBZ Management, the former property management group. The city continues to pursue civil and criminal legal actions against the individuals who have failed to take care of their properties including The Edge at Lowry – collectively known as CBZ Management.

“The ownership and the management of the Dallas Street Apartments allowed this crisis to unfold, unchecked. They used an influx of vulnerable migrants and vulnerable populations to maximize profits,” Chamberlain said.

The chief and the city in a release Wednesday both called out action groups, which they say created false narratives on the conditions of the complex and the assistance that was provided.

“The same activist that came here and tried to get people not to leave saying it was all a ploy for deportation, caused the moral panic that many of these people, that were already confused, became even more confused by these so-called interventions who came on the betterment of the people which was a complete fallacy and falsehood,” the chief said.

Meanwhile, the city mentioned this frustration as well.

“We greatly value and thank the true, well-intentioned community partners that have stepped forward to assist in this challenging process which has had an impact on many people. However, the situation has also drawn out select individuals that have taken advantage of the circumstances for their own benefit and notoriety. It is incumbent upon the city to correct the record, provide the facts and ask news organizations to put their focus on covering factual information that can be validated,” the city said.

The city reported that 85 people across 23 units were provided assistance in their move-out process, and the city spent approximately $94,375 in direct assistance on relocation efforts.

Any resident who was provided assistance went through a vetting process. Qualified residents were required to provide their names and contact information. They were also required to provide a form of identification so they could perform background checks and assist residents with housing applications and potential employment. Relocation assistance was not provided to anyone with a documented violent criminal history.

The city also spent a pretty penny on the property once it took over. The money covered plumbing and electrical repairs, temporary portable electric heaters, trash abatement in hallways and on the property grounds, roll-off dumpsters, exterior lighting restoration and repair, abandoned appliance removal, the capping of gas lines, smoke detector installation, board-up materials, fencing and 24/7 on-site security personnel and tools.

“While this complex was going through the transition there was approximately $36,000 that was spent on to make this an inhabitable location. There was no water, there was no sewage, there was no electricity,” Chamberlain said.

The chief also focused on the criminal activity at the complex and said calls for service have gone down since the city stepped in. He said it was without question that Tren de Aragua, the Venezuelan gang, took control of the complex and “created a climate of fear and lawlessness.”

It’s a departure from previous messaging: In September, Chamberlain said there was no evidence that gang members had taken over apartment buildings and were collecting rent. In September, the chief instead pointed to landlords and property management companies as having a larger community impact.

“I think this is almost a perfect storm. This is not just a law enforcement-focused event right now. We are looking at the property management, we are looking at the landlords, there’s been a number of civil actions that have been placed on the individuals that control those apartment complexes,” Chamberlain said in September.

He had a message for any remaining TDA members who have not been deported or apprehended.

“To the gang members that resided here that mistreated the people that fled to this country alongside you: It is disgraceful and disgusting. The Aurora Police Department will not let you take root in the city of Aurora,” Chamberlain said.

APD said those 85 former residents were not placed in the same locations to avoid re-victimization. They say they are proactively making sure TdA does not follow any of these individuals. They also now have security and a police presence at the complex, he called it a “controlled area.”