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Sacramento Police Order Tent City Homeless To Clear Out

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — The Sacramento Police Department has ordered some 150 homeless campers along the American River levee to back up and move on.

The homeless camp is located on the south side of the American River next to the levee and American River Bike Trail between the end of 10th and the 12th Street bridge. Most of the campers were complying peacefully with police, although one man refused to leave and was arrested.

Police, who had warned the campers weeks ago that they couldn't stay there, arrived early Wednesday morning to supervise the eviction and help the homeless campers to pack up their belongs.

Members of the camp say they're in the same situation they were in more than two years ago when Tent City drew national media attention. They say they have no other place to go and no answers from the city on what they're expected to do.

However, police say they've given the campers plenty of warning and information on shelters and other services. Eighty beds were made available to the campers and more could be made available if needed, a homeless advocate told CBS13..

"I think it's messed up they making us leave a couple days after Christmas," one camper told CBS13 on Wednesday morning.

Although the campers were complying with the order to move out, they'll likely just move down the river and set up camp somewhere else.

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