On Monday, a massive array of law enforcement agencies coordinated action in southwest DeKalb County to “clear out” the woods at the site of Atlanta’s proposed public safety training center. The law enforcement action was timed to occur before the imminent construction of what has become a “controversial facility” as a consequence of persistent agitators opposing the facility.
As reported, SWAT teams from the Atlanta and DeKalb County police departments, as well as Georgia State Patrol troopers and representatives from other agencies, were seen at the site. “The Georgia Bureau of Investigation confirmed the multi-agency operation to FOX 5.”
“In an ongoing effort to ensure that the site of the future City of Atlanta Public Safety Training Center is safe and secure, the GBI, along with other law enforcement partners, conducted an operation to identify people who are illegally trespassing and/or engaging in criminal activity on the property,” the GBI stated in a news release.
A Twitter posting embedded in the article stated that the planned Atlanta police training center is called “Cop City” by opponents. The site, the Twitter post alleged, “looks like a war zone right now. Heavily-armed members of law enforcement are clearing out the forest and have escorted in construction workers to make way for the facility.”
Another Twitter post disclosed in the @FOX5Atlanta article asserted that the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) claimed this morning’s “land clearing operation” at the planned site resulted in zero arrests.” The collection of involved law enforcement agencies reads like a ladle full of alphabet soup. According to the GBI spokesperson, the collection of “agencies involved in the sweep included the GBI, APD, the GSP, state AG’s office, DeKalb PD, and DeKalb DA.”
The reported article elaborated that the “operation was taking place almost a week after officials announced an agreement to move forward on the $90-million facility. A similar clearing operation resulted in the death of 26-year-old Manuel “Tortuguita” Teran.” The report added: “During that fatal Jan. 18 incident, Teran is accused of firing at troopers “without warning,” wounding one. Teran died after several other troopers returned fire, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation has said.”
