Santa Clarita Valley Deputies Host Thousands For Haunted Jailhouse

Posted by: Perry Smith in Santa Clarita News October 28, 2013 - 12:39 pm 0 191 Views

As students dressed as zombies from Elite Dance Studio danced in sync to “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” next to a pair of children ziplining down from a 30-foot tower, one could see how the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station drew thousands to its Haunted Jailhouse event.

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An estimate from a head count at the door saw about 4,000 stop by for a $1 admission price that went to support the Santa Clarita Valley Boys & Girls Club.

“We had a pretty good turnout this year,” said Deputy Joe Trejo, who was coordinating the event for just the second time. “We’re hoping that we get a larger crowd next year for the 25th annual.”

There were also tickets available that allowed children to try out a zip-line ride from the Sheriff’s Station’s Search and Rescue Team, as well as the popular “Dunk a Deputy” booth, where people could spend $1 for three tries at a dunk tank involving a Sheriff’s Station deputy and a large tub of ice-cold water.

“Aside from a fundraiser, it’s technically an open house,” Trejo said, adding that the concept was somewhat pioneered by the Santa Clarita Valley Station, and has since been mirrored by several other stations.

“It’s a display of Sheriff’s Department capability and resources,” Trejo said. “This is what’s available for us in the event of an emergency.”

Children also enjoyed climbing around a Sheriff’s Department boat from the Parks Bureau deputies who patrol Castaic Lake, a MADD display meant to reinforce the importance of safe and sober driving and even an inmate transport bus.

“For us adults, it’s just a bus,” Trejo said, “but the kids love it.”

It was truly an all ages crowd, with a haunted jailhouse decorated for two age groups, and several costume contests broke up performances like the one from Elite and the Valencia High drumline.

Members of the SCV Boys & Girls Club also had raffle prizes and helped out with the scary jailhouse, and one intended for a younger crowd with an “Alice in Wonderland” theme.

“We definitely got a lot of positive feedback,” Trejo said, “and we’re looking forward to what kind of rabbit in the hat we can pull out for next year.”