LOCAL NEWS

South Salt Lake Police Clear Out Homeless Encampments Along Jordan River

Sep 13, 2018, 8:24 PM | Updated: 9:10 pm

SOUTH SALT LAKE, Utah – Officers and health workers have cleared trash and other items from a homeless encampment along the Jordan River in South Salt Lake.

Officers from the South Salt Lake Police Department, workers from the Salt Lake County Health Department, and community volunteers spent hours cleaning up trash from campsites along the Jordan River Parkway Trail Thursday.

South Salt Lake Police Chief Jack Carruth said trash and human waste from the campsites pollute the nearby Jordan River.

Carruth said it is illegal for people to camp in the area, but the campsites have been increasing. He said he believes Operation: Rio Grande in Salt Lake City has pushed people into the area.

Officials first warned the people living in the campsites that they cannot be there, then came through a few days later to clean up what was left behind. The last cleanup was about six weeks ago.

“We cleaned up approximately 7 to 8 camps and roughly 8,000 pounds of trash. Now, that brings us to today, where we’ve got a count of 21 camps – and I’m going to estimate with what you see going out, 25,000 to 30,000 pounds of trash. Somewhere between 15 to 20 large dump truck loads of garbage will be removed from this area,” Carruth said.

Carruth said officers try to direct people in the campsites to shelters where they can get help, but he said several of those people do not want to go to the shelters.

“A lot of them just don’t desire that. They don’t want that resource, and that kind of ties our hands at that point. There are resources available. We do channel them in that direction to try to get them the help they need, but when they decline that, then we have to have a balance,” Carruth said. “We’re not trying to illegalize (the) homeless, but we are trying to enforce transient issues and vagrancy with relation to illegal camping,”

Carruth said most people had left the campsites before they began cleaning up, but some were still there. He said they arrested three or four people.

KSL 5 TV Live

Local News

Researchers gathered in a Weber State University room for a Air Quality Summit....

Mike Anderson

Air Quality Summit puts focus on Utah air pollution and solutions

Many of the researchers who study Utah's air pollution problems are sharing what they've found while working to find solutions during Thursday's Air Quality Summit.

21 minutes ago

Keith Stebbings (right) confronting Loren Richardson (left) after Richardson allegedly entered his ...

Shelby Lofton

‘He wasn’t intending to hurt anybody’: Brighton homeowner attorney says snowboarder confrontation was a misunderstanding

The Brighton man armed with a gun while confronting a snowboarder in a viral video is now facing criminal charges. But his attorney says he had the right to protect his property.

1 hour ago

Follow @KSL5TVLike us on Facebook...

Eliza Pace

VIDEO: Watch the moment a UHP trooper stops a 12-year-old driving on the freeway

Utah Highway Patrol responded to a call of a reckless driver. They didn't know until after they stopped the car that it was a 12-year-old driver.

2 hours ago

Chad Daybell and his attorney, John Prior, appear in a hearing on Oct. 29, 2020...

Larry D. Curtis

Gag order issued for upcoming Chad Daybell murder trial

With jury selection only days away in the murder trial of former Utahn Chad Guy Daybell, the court has issued a gag order concerning the case.

2 hours ago

Lehi homes...

Daniel Woodruff

Governor highlights bills to help Utah homebuyers, but will they make a difference?

Gov. Spencer Cox on Thursday highlighted several new bills he just signed into law that are aimed at getting more buyers into the market.

2 hours ago

The Brigham Young University national landscaping team posing in front of the grounds....

Lindsay Aerts

BYU wins National Collegiate Landscaping Competition for the 5th time in 6 years

The BYU Cougars claimed have claimed their fifth National Collegiate Landscaping Competition in six years.

2 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

Women hold card for scanning key card to access Photocopier Security system concept...

Les Olson

Why Printer Security Should Be Top of Mind for Your Business

Connected printers have vulnerable endpoints that are an easy target for cyber thieves. Protect your business with these tips.

Modern chandelier hanging from a white slanted ceiling with windows in the backgruond...

Lighting Design

Light Up Your Home With These Top Lighting Trends for 2024

Check out the latest lighting design trends for 2024 and tips on how you can incorporate them into your home.

Technician woman fixing hardware of desktop computer. Close up....

PC Laptops

Tips for Hassle-Free Computer Repairs

Experiencing a glitch in your computer can be frustrating, but with these tips you can have your computer repaired without the stress.

Close up of finger on keyboard button with number 11 logo...

PC Laptops

7 Reasons Why You Should Upgrade Your Laptop to Windows 11

Explore the benefits of upgrading to Windows 11 for a smoother, more secure, and feature-packed computing experience.

Stylish room interior with beautiful Christmas tree and decorative fireplace...

Lighting Design

Create a Festive Home with Our Easy-to-Follow Holiday Prep Guide

Get ready for festive celebrations! Discover expert tips to prepare your home for the holidays, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for unforgettable moments.

Battery low message on mobile device screen. Internet and technology concept...

PC Laptops

9 Tips to Get More Power Out of Your Laptop Battery

Get more power out of your laptop battery and help it last longer by implementing some of these tips from our guide.

South Salt Lake Police Clear Out Homeless Encampments Along Jordan River