Around-the-clock work

SCV Sheriff’s Station deputies arrest 2 dozen people during special operation

Sheriff’s officials are calling a 24hour targeted operation “a success” after locking up two dozen alleged criminals Thursday and Friday.

Between 6 a.m. Thursday and 6 a.m. Friday, a special team of 30 Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputies from the Santa Clarita station hit the streets looking to intervene in crimes committed throughout the valley.

All-in-all, 24 people were arrested as a result of the operation. Twelve of the arrests involved narcotics, five for felony warrants. Others included forgery, parole violation, public intoxication, restraining order violation, identity theft, possession of burglary tools, receiving stolen property and weapons violations.

“We had tremendous success throughout the operation,” Deputy Sheriff Chris Craft said following the conclusion of the round-the-clock exercise.

“We also field identified eight gang members throughout the Santa Clarita Valley,” Craft said.

The sheriff’s station’s goal was to identify local areas in need of more proactive policing, Craft explained.

That method factors in the station’s three-prong approach: education, intervention and enforcement.

“The education side targets younger people and encourages them to not become involved in narcotics,” Craft said.

The station employs intervention programs through its J-Team, a band of deputies and detectives focused on helping people get treatment and placement in homes if they need more help staying away from or get off narcotics.

If the intervention and education doesn’t work, deputies conduct enforcement.

Craft encourages those seeking help or advice to contact the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station’s J-Team at 661-255-1121.

Austin Dave/The Signal Drug paraphernalia sits on top of a Santa Clartia Valley Sheriff’s Station car during a special 24-hour operation around the SCV. Around two dozen people were arrested when the dust settled.

Signal Austin Dave/The (Above) A Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station deputy sifts through potential evidence after making a stop during a 24-hour operation this week. A special team of 30 Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputies from the Santa Clarita station hit...

(Right) A deputy looks around several items during an operation Thursday. The station employs intervention programs through its JTeam, a band of deputies and detectives focused on helping people get treatment and placement in homes if they need more...