Drugs, weapons confiscated during sweep of Santa Clarita and Antelope Valleys.

Sheriff’s deputies arrested five suspected gang members Wednesday and Thursday while conducting probation checks and executing search warrants in the Santa Clarita and Antelope Valleys. Along with the five arrests, they recovered a cache of drugs and weapons, including a handgun belonging to a deputy sheriff that was stolen in a 2006 Santa Clarita burglary.

Freddy Esquivel, 25, of Canyon Country was arrested at a residence on Anne Freda Drive, where deputies recovered a loaded .45 caliber handgun with the serial numbers obliterated. Two additional suspects were identified, but remain at large. Esquivel was booked at the Santa Clarita Valley station on 3 felony counts, including violation of his felony probation. He is being held without bail.

Rafael Ochoa, 26, of Lancaster was arrested at a residence on 18^th Street East in Lancaster where deputies recovered two shotguns, two handguns, methamphetamine and several hundred rounds of ammunition. One of the recovered handguns belonged to a sheriff’s deputy and had been stolen in a 2006 Santa Clarita burglary. Ochoa was booked at the Santa Clarita Valley station and faces three felony charges. He is being held in lieu of $50,000 bail.

Also arrested was Aaron Uribe, 20, on a misdemeanor charge of possession of narcotic paraphernalia, a violation of his felony probation. He is being held without bail. A third man at that location was also arrested on an unrelated warrant and a misdemeanor narcotics charge.

Obed Uribe, 22, of Palmdale was arrested during a probation compliance search on Sungate Drive in Palmdale where marijuana, cocaine and prescription drugs were recovered. Uribe was booked at the Santa Clarita Valley station on felony drug charges and is being held in lieu of $10,000 bail.