Authorities conduct clearing operation at Atlanta public safety training center site

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. - A massive law enforcement presence was out Monday morning clearing the woods at the site of Atlanta’s proposed public safety training center ahead of imminent construction for the controversial facility.

SWAT teams from the Atlanta and DeKalb County police departments, as well as Georgia State Patrol troopers and representatives from other agencies, were seen at the site in southwest DeKalb County.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation confirmed the multi-agency operation to FOX 5.

"In an ongoing effort to ensure that the site of the future City of Atlanta Public Safety Training Center is safe and secure, the GBI, along with other law enforcement partners, conducted an operation to identify people who are illegally trespassing and/or engaging in criminal activity on the property," the GBI stated in a news release.

Agencies involved in the operation included: Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Atlanta Police Department, Georgia State Patrol, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Department of Juvenile Justice, DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office, Georgia Attorney General’s Office, Georgia Emergency Management Agency, DeKalb County Police Department, and the Atlanta Fire and Rescue.

Authorities say no arrests were made.

The operation was taking place almost a week after officials announced an agreement to move forward on the $90-million facility. A similar clearing operation resulted in the death of 26-year-old Manuel "Tortuguita" Teran.

During that fatal Jan. 18 incident, Teran is accused of firing at troopers "without warning," wounding one. Teran died after several other troopers returned fire, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation has said.

Family members and attorneys for Teran were set to hold a press conference at 10 a.m. Monday in Decatur.

An independent autopsy found that Teran was shot 13 times. The family is asking for more transparency about the shooting.