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24-Hour Operation Fills Jail ‘To Capacity,’ Nets 39 Arrests In Santa Clarita (VIDEO)

A 24-hour operation conducted by the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station netted 39 arrests in a single day, filling the station’s jail to capacity, officials said.


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The second-time the Sheriff’s Station has run this type of operation, the 24-hour heightened enforcement period doubles the number of patrol cars on the streets, said  Lt. Ignacio Somoano.

24 Hours

“The goal of this operation is to saturate areas that have been targeted for recent crimes,” said Somoano. “We are able to dedicate personnel that are not going out to calls, but to just patrol.”

The extra units are staffed with two deputies, instead of the usual one-manned patrol cars, according to Somoano.

“Having a two-deputy patrol car gives us an opportunity to contact more people in a safer manner,” he said. “Sometimes a deputy could come in contact with a group of people, and they could take off running.”

They might think twice if there are two deputies in the car, Somoano said.

The issue is, Somano says, on a busy night deputies might go straight from call to call, and are not able to check what the Sheriff’s Department considers “high-activity” areas.  

“These patrols are not only helpful for the extra manpower, but it gives deputies a chance to patrol the streets without being called out for service,” he explained.

Crime Mapping

The Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station uses trends to determine the areas that have increased criminal activity, said Somoano.

“We use crime mapping software to help visualize where these crimes are happening,” Somoano said. “We can assess where these upticks in crime are happening.”

Deputies have seen certain crimes, such as vehicle burglaries, on the rise in some areas.

“Detectives see crime patterns and help coordinate with special assignment teams based on the current crime trends,” Somoano said.

There could be multiple patrol deputies assigned to one area, so along with the Detective Bureau, the Crime Prevention Unit (CPU) gathers data to determine any spikes in crime.

“We are increasing patrols along Sierra Highway and other areas such as Newhall,” said Somoano. “It is a combination of investigation from detectives, tips from the community and the CPUs to help map these areas out.”

Drug Bust

At about 9 p.m. Thursday, a call for backup came across the radio after deputies found three individuals suspected of using narcotics behind a Saugus business.

“Can any Santa Clarita deputies respond to a backup request on Bouquet Canyon Road?” a dispatcher asked over the radio. “Detaining several individuals.”

Somoano arrived at the scene behind the Goodwill in Saugus and called out “Code 6,” meaning he intended to assist in the investigation.

“A patrol car on special operations came across a vehicle suspicious in nature, and they saw open containers of alcohol,” Somoano said.

Upon investigation, deputies found several bags of what is suspected to be methamphetamine and detained three suspects.

Somoano said that it is these types of arrests or situations that make these types of operations worthwhile, because his ability to come and provide extra support for the deputies on scene might not have been possible on a normal night.

Extra patrol cars on the streets give deputies “flexibility” to do a variety of operations they might not be able to conduct otherwise, Somoano said.   

Probation Operation

As part of the 24-hour increased patrols, deputies also conducted probation checks to make sure probationers are living at the address listed in their file.

“We have a probation officer assigned to station detectives, giving us a direct link to help monitor probationers,” Somoano said.

“There are a lot of probationers that do comply with their conditions, like not engaging in criminal activity (and) keeping their probation officers posted,” Somoano said. “Unfortunately, people planning on continuing to engage in criminal activity will give a false address, or move as soon as they are visited.”

During the 24-hour operation, deputies conducted 11 probation searches and one parole search, according to Shirley Miller, a spokesperson for the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station.

“These checks would not have been possible without the extra deputies on the streets,” Somoano said.

The operation that began Thursday morning at 6 a.m. and concluded 24 hours later resulted in the arrest of 39 individuals, according to officials.

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24-Hour Operation Fills Jail ‘To Capacity,’ Nets 39 Arrests In Santa Clarita (VIDEO)

7 comments

  1. GREAT,

    This just goes to show, we NEED more L.A. Country Sheriff to cover our Santa Clarita Valley in a SAFE way. All Patrols should have TWO Sheriffs in the car!!!!

  2. Makes you wonder how many tickets they will have to write to everyone to pay for the extra patrols. Tickets and impounding your car are great money maker’s. Too bad for the low income just trying to make it citizens.

    • Well, if the “low income just trying to make it citizens” are law abiding, low income, and just trying to make it citizens; then there shouldn’t be a problem – should there?

  3. Yes, everyone will have to abide by the same laws and torts as everybody else… Believe it, the deputies forgive a lot to the descent hard working and respectful people they come in contact with. Those that don’t only reap what THEY sow, so they have only themselves to blame.

  4. That’s a typical liberal answer Will. How about great job to the men and women protecting us trying to keep crime low for a growing city that crime is outta control. Don’t break the traffic laws and don’t have a reason to get your car impounded then you won’t have to worry about it. Laws are made to protect us. Low income folks collecting free stuff is exactly what’s bringing crime to our city.

  5. Follow the rules, obey the posted speed limit signs, and stay off the cell phone while operating a vehicle and the sheriff won’t have a reason to write a ticket or impound your car.

  6. So THAT is what was going on Thursday! I was on my way home from a game night, and pulled over in an empty parking lot to check my phone. it was roughly midnight. The SCV sheriff were on me in a few minutes. I don’t know what they suspected I was doing, but they asked for my ID, took it back to their vehicle to (I assume) run my name/record. I, of course, have no record of any kind so they gave it back and let me go.

    When I was on the road again they were already interviewing another person! Lot’s of activity that night.

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About Devon Miller

Devon Miller was born and raised in Santa Clarita. He joined KHTS Radio as a digital marketing intern in September of 2017, and later moved to news as a staff writer in December. Miller attended College of the Canyons and served as the Associated Student Government President. Miller is now News Director for KHTS, covering breaking news and politics across the Santa Clarita Valley.