Human Relations Panel Wants Orange Police, Latinos to Meet

The Orange County Human Relations Commission on Thursday voted to ask Orange police and Latino residents to meet about problems at the Orange Park Villas apartments, the scene of a controversial immigration raid last month.

The commission will solicit the support of residents, community leaders, the clergy and police to discuss problems of crime and overcrowding at the apartment complex, where many of the arrests were made.

“It seems that statements of residents differ from what the police are saying,” commission member Jean Forbath said. “It’s not our job to judge who is correct, but we do need to build bridges here. It seems that credibility has been lost on both sides.”

The Sept. 18 raid by Border Patrol agents was targeted at day laborers who gather along East Chapman Avenue. The sweep quickly spilled over into the 260-unit Orange Park Villas apartments at 3138 E Maple Ave. as workers fled there.

In all, 216 people were arrested, most along Chapman Avenue with about 25 at the apartment complex. City police and code enforcement officers were on hand throughout the raid.

City officials said, however, that the raid was prompted by complaints from residents, not at their request. Police were present only for traffic control, and code enforcement officers arrived there coincidentally conducting a separate investigation, they contended.

Latino activists condemned the action and accused the city of colluding with federal officials to round up illegal immigrants.

Residents of the apartment complex also complained of excessively rough treatment and alleged that agents entered apartments illegally, broke windows and threatened them.