Covina police combat homeless encampments in Dalton Wash

COVINA -- Covina police teamed up with county and city officials Thursday to conclude a six-week operation aimed at getting homeless to leave encampments set up in wash areas and seal off the areas to prevent future camps.
Police were joined by Los Angeles County mental health and public works officials, as well as Covina public works officials, as they finished up the process Thursday in a portion of the Dalton Wash near Arrow Highway and Azusa Avenue, Covina police Sgt. David Povero said.
For the past six weeks, officials have been contacting transients camping in the wash area, telling them they can't camp in the wash and offering them county services to help them find housing, the sergeant said.
Some took officials up on the offer, while others declined, he said.
About half a dozen transients were contacted during recent weeks, Povero added.
When officials arrived Thursday, they found two people -- a man and woman -- in the wash, he said. They refused county services and left the area after police talked with them.
A hazardous waste contractor then removed two trucks full of debris from the wash, including food, bedding, clothing and stuffed animals, police said. Extension cords had been run through the wash to provide the transients with electricity.
In the past, officials have strengthened the chain link fences blocking access to the wash with rebar, Povero said, but transients always managed to breach it.
A contractor Thursday erected a cinder block wall to cover two of the most popular access points into the wash, he said.