Fresno arrests 139 under new law against illegal camping

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Fresno Police accidental officers person arrested 139 radical since a prohibition connected stateless encampments successful nationalist spaces went into effect conscionable implicit 3 weeks ago.

One of those radical is 48-year-old William Erwin.

"It's called 'Sit, Lie, Sleep, Camp: Public Area,' that's what I got successful occupation for," said Erwin. "I heard I was expected to get a warning, I didn't get nary warning. They woke maine up archetypal happening successful the morning. The prima was hardly coming up and took maine to jail."

He says aft being told to determination retired of his encampment Wednesday, helium was sleeping connected the sidewalk adjacent the intersection of Divisadero and H streets erstwhile Fresno Police arrested him connected Thursday.

"I was beauteous devastated, crushed. I wanted to cry," said Erwin.

This apprehension comes aft the city's amerciable camping ordinance went into effect past month, banning unhoused radical from camping successful nationalist spaces.

"The officers person been citywide, moving each day, they yet person had the accidental to code immoderate of the folks that person conscionable been repeating problems astatine locations, repetition pile-ups of trash, oregon repetition complaints from neighbors," said interim Fresno constabulary Chief Mindy Casto says officers bash not person to springiness radical warnings, but instrumentality enforcement had been successful interaction with Erwin the time earlier his arrest.

Through a "treatment-first program," the city's extremity is to get unhoused radical to help, but if they repeatedly refuse, oregon if determination are different circumstances, they tin beryllium placed successful jail.

"If they're arrested, specified arsenic Mr. Erwin was, helium had a misdemeanor warrant, truthful helium wasn't offered services, arsenic acold arsenic housing, due to the fact that helium was booked successful jailhouse for the warrant. He was, however, offered diversion services for immoderate substance maltreatment issues, and helium declined," said Chief Casto.

After a fewer hours down bars, Erwin was cited and released.

Action News asked wherefore Erwin decided to instrumentality to the area.

"It's the lone existent spot I cognize that's called location close now. Just an country wherever I cognize people, they cognize me, I tin get assistance from my friends."

Erwin says during COVID, helium mislaid his occupation and hasn't been capable to get 1 since.

"Just person a small much compassion. I didn't take this life. It came to me," said Erwin.

He's present disquieted astir paying a $1,000 good erstwhile helium inactive doesn't person a extortion implicit his head.

"Now I person a tribunal day that I person to look connected 1/27, truthful I'll spot what happens," said Erwin.

Chief Casto says each concern is evaluated connected a case-by-case basis, but she has seen an uptick successful radical accepting services.

Right now, she says the acceptance complaint is conscionable implicit 6 percent.

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