Police bust up homeless camp in the Valley

Los Angeles police on horseback raided a long-standing homeless encampment under the 210 freeway in Big Tujunga Wash and used ropes to rip down shelters, the Daily News says. The sweep followed weeks of discussions between the homeless, social service agencies and authorities, says Councilman Paul Krekorian: "There have been extensive, extensive long-term efforts to get them out." But Rev. Sam Graham, associate pastor of Chapel of the Hills Church in of Sunland, called the action sad: "They just swept them out of there, destroying stuff. They received no warning, with no chance to remove their possessions." An LAPD spokeswoman sad, "The response was because of numerous complaints and problems - drugs, drinking, gangs, shootings." Daily News photographer Hans Gutknecht doncumented the camp in photos that are on the website.