O.C. homeless camps cleared

Morgan “Mermaid” Gallerito carries belongings while being evicted from a large homeless encampment along the Santa Ana River trail Friday.

Officers from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and the Anaheim, Orange and Fountain Valley police departments took part in Friday’s action to clear homeless camps along the Santa Ana River trail.

Law enforcement officers walk through a large homeless encampment to enforce an eviction notice that began Friday between Warner and Edinger avenues along the Santa Ana River trail on the border of Fountain Valley and Santa Ana.

Ivan Reyes, who has been living in a homeless encampment along the Santa Ana River trail for two months, carries an American flag along with his belongings as authorities clear out the camp Friday.

Larry Ford, 53, right, a U.S. Army veteran, former contractor and chef who suffers from depression, packs up his tent as authories clear a homeless encampment along the Santa Ana River trail Friday.

Linda O’Reilly, who has been homeless for five years, moves her belongings out of the large encampment along the Santa Ana River trail.

Lisa Weber, 57, who has been homeless on-and-off for 30 years, packs all of her belongings into her car across the street from her encampment along the Santa Ana River trail.

People pack up their belongings as authories clear a homeless encampment along the Santa Ana River trail.

For hundreds of homeless who have created a makeshift community of tents and encampments along the Santa Ana River’s concrete edges between Fountain Valley and Anaheim, it’s time to either pack up or face arrest.

Homeless veteran Larry Ford is reflected in a mirror hanging inside his camp. Homeless people are packing their belongings in preparation for Friday’s eviction.

Orange County sheriff’s deputies patrol along the Santa Ana River homeless encampment.

Homeless veteran Larry Ford showers in his camp. Homeless people are packing their belongings in preparation for Friday’s eviction.

Larry Ford sits on his bike outside his encampment along the Santa Ana River trail. It remains unclear where those kicked out of the homeless camps will go. Armories might provide temporary shelter for those displaced.

A homeless man packs up his tents and leaves the Santa Ana River camp before the eviction begins.

Homeless people started trickling into the area, near Harbor Boulevard and Edinger Avenue, about a year ago.

An Orange County sheriff’s cruiser drives along the Santa Ana River, past homeless encampments.

Larry Ford, 53, left and Lisa Weber, 57, join a large group of homeless campers who face eviction on Friday from their encampment between Warner Ave. and Edinger Ave. along the Santa Ana River trail.