KHTS Radio Santa Clarita Radio – Santa Clarita News
A Santa Clarita Valley teen captured “something incredible” at Westfield Valencia Town Center this week, which led to nearly 1,000 Facebook comments, many supporting SCV Sheriff’s Station deputies for their efforts.
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The moment was captured and posted by Facebook user Cinthia Alvarez, who identifies as a Hart High student in Newhall.
Alvarez witnessed Deputies William Formica and James Mees of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station walk into Sears on Wednesday evening with a man who has been known to walk the streets of the Santa Clarita Valley for years, frequently on the east side, along Soledad Canyon Road, so often in fact that there’s at least one Facebook page about sightings.
The deputies walked in with the man who had ripped and tattered clothing and helped him purchase new ones, surprising Alvarez.
Here’s the original post from Alvarez, who notes her surprise:
“LA County Sheriff’s walked in with one of our known locals. The worst assumption came to mind so I followed them to see what was going on. Only then did I realize that these kind men were buying him new clothes to change out of his ripped ones. Deputies Mee and Formica have taught me that there are good officers out there…”
As of Friday afternoon, Alvarez’ post has more than 7,000 positive reactions and nearly 1,000 comments, many of them sharing positive experiences with the man identified in many of the comments as “Michael.”
“Many of the deputies who serve the Santa Clarita Valley also live up here, and this is just another example showing how deputies care about the community and people the Sheriff’s Department serves,” said Sheriff’s Station spokeswoman Shirley Miller, adding the station didn’t become aware of the story until the Facebook post had garnered several thousands likes and hundreds of shares.
“These deputies weren’t looking for attention or praise for their efforts,” Miller added, “they were just trying to help someone who appeared to be in need.”
Many of the comments read like the following:
“This just put a smile on my face after reading the post.
I see Michael all over SCV, and next time I do, I’ll make sure I stop and talk to him.
Great work to these two amazing sherrifs [sic] for making Michael feel so special and cared about!!”
Just seen this homeless man again today, day after sheriff purchased clothes for him he’s still wearing his old cloths, not sure where the new stuff is! I have seen this guy wearing the same dirty stuff for at least the last year.
I’ve seen him for years in the Valencia library wearing the same outfit. Over the years he’s clothes have gone from bad to worse. Tonight was the first time i saw him with ripped clothes. I believe he needs help but not sure what kind of help.
I have some big size pants and Jackets that might git him. Where can i find him?
As far as I know, this guy is not homeless. Last I heard, he lived with his mom here in Canyon Country. Not sure if he still is or if she’s still alive, though. I have known him for years, and he has serious mental issues. When he’s off his meds, I’ve seen him yelling at traffic, arguing with people, talking to himself, and yelling at nobody in particular. He paces back and forth everywhere he goes, and creeps people out generally. When I first met him back in like ’04, he was more together and better groomed. He IS an intelligent guy, though, and is well-read. He’s read the Bible back-to-back several times, as well as the Koran, and other religious books. You gotta catch him on a good day, though, else you see how messed up he is. Some folks here call him ‘Creepy Jesus’ for obvious reasons. I think he has some money, and I’ve seen him shop and carrying full bags of new stuff. Most of the time he’s frugal, and goes into restaurants and orders just water. On a few occasions I have heard he has gone into restaurants, eaten full meals, and bails without paying the tab. Other times without leaving any tip. A waitress told me this herself. When he comes in, they don’t want to serve him. All that being said, IMO he’s not really that special of a guy and doesn’t deserve any more attention any more than any other derilect in this town. Just sayin’.
he is alive i saw him earlier today
I went too school with him! He went to Hart High. His sister Niki also went to hart. I’ve seen him around the valley here and there for the past 15 years. That was nice of the sheriff’s to do that.
Don’t believe this guy is homeless and I think he has money, actually. Known him for years, and he’s got serious mental problems. He’s a nut-case. Screams at people and at no one in particular! Pretty intelligent and well-read, believe it or not, but he goes off sometimes and paces back and forth everywhere he goes, which is very annoying. People call him Creepy Jesus in town and he definitely is creepy no question about it. Greasy, stringy hair, and always wears the same shirt and pants that WAS black at one time, and the same old sandals.
He looks like Cro-Magnon man with a unibrow. Yuk! That guy gives me the creeps….
Yep. Saw him today in the mall food court wearing the same clothes he’s wearing in this picture.
I always see him at the bus station. The fact that he goes from having clothes bought, back to wearing the same clothes…it baffles me. There are homeless shelters. Not sure why he doesn’t visit one.
There are millions of great law enforcement protecting our neighborhoods. This should be of no surprise, they have been doing this for years. Unfortunately there are rotton apples in ever sector of life but if our country enforced stricter penalties for those who break the law our streets wouldn’t be threatened with criminals continually.
Thank you Deputies William Formica and James Mees for doing such a kind thing for this man I see daily. I’m proud of our SCV law enforcement officers!