SCV Sheriff - News Room

Safe Drug Drop-Off Program

The Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station is Participating in the Sheriff's Department's Safe Drug Drop-Off Program - The Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station is participating in the Safe Drug Drop-Off program. The program originated at the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Lomita Station and has since expanded to include all Sheriff's Stations in Los Angeles County. The program consist of the installation of three safe drop storage containers in front of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station.
  
At a recent press conference in front of Lomita Sheriff's Station, Sheriff Leroy D. Baca was joined by a number of public officials in announcing the new program. The purpose of the program is to ensure that residents have a safe way to dispose of expired or unused prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, syringes, and other controlled substances -- safely and anonymously.

The common practice of storing unused or expired medications at home can lead to improper or illegal use, sales, or distribution if they fall into the wrong hands. The inadvertent ingestion of these medications by children can have deadly consequences. Still others flush the medicines down the drain which can have an adverse impact on our environment. Waste water treatment plants are not able to test or treat for pharmaceuticals. They can end up in our rivers, streams, lakes, oceans, and groundwater system.

The Sheriff’s Department is encouraging individuals who wish to dispose of medication or any narcotics, to bring them to the three white narcotics mailboxes located at the front entrance of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station.  

There, residents can deposit their expired medication or narcotics anonymously, in one of the designated mailboxes. The program will be available at the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station indefinitely.

"The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is always looking for innovative new ways to enhance public safety and improve our quality of life," said Captain Anthony La Berge of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station. "This program provides a safe way to dispose of unused or unwanted medications and keep them out of our community," he added. 

If You See Something, Say Something!  Report non-emergency crime anonymously by visiting the following link: Crime Tips or calling (661) 284-2-TIP / (661) 284-2847. Residents should also visit http://www.crimereports.com/ to keep up with incidents reported in and around their neighborhood.

Always verify the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff Station's information and news releases by visiting our Web site at SCVSheriff, the city of Santa Clarita's Web site at Santa-Clarita, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Web site at LASD or a trusted local news source. Five other local news outlets are KHTS AM-1220, The Signal, Santa Clarita Valley Nonprofit News Center, The West Ranch Beacon and Santa Clarita Guide. For questions regarding this release, contact Sergeant Harris at (661) 799-5814.

Residents & Deputies Just Keep Stopping Crime

Commit Crime? - Not in the Santa Clarita Valley! Burglars and Thieves Caught at all Hours of the Night Thanks to Proactive Deputies and Watchful Santa Clarita Residents - In two separate January incidents deputies and residents nabbed suspected car burglars and thieves in Santa Clarita.  During the first incident on Saturday, January 16, 2010, deputies responded to the 32800 block of Ridge Top Lane - unincorporated Los Angeles County, Castaic, to a residents report that she saw a man attempting to break into their car which was parked in the driveway. When they arrived in the area it appeared the suspect was gone, but one of the deputies noticed a silver Toyota Avalon parked on the street that matched the description of a car seen at other vehicle burglaries in Santa Clarita. The deputies checked the car and found it contained a substantial amount of property including numerous cell phones, purses, GPS systems, and other electronics. They also found the engine was warm. The car had been reported stolen in March 2009 from the Northridge area.

Deputies began checking the neighborhood and one of them spotted a man hiding in the back seat of another vehicle parked in a driveway in the 32800 block of Ridge Top Lane. The suspect, Mark Rodriguez, MH/26, of Granada Hills was detained and the investigation continued. Witnesses identified the man as the person they had seen entering vehicles. The man was arrested on felony charges of Possession of an Unlawful Weapon, Felon in Possession of Ammunition, Reasonable Cause Grand Theft, Grand Theft Auto and Reasonable Cause Receiving Stolen Property. He also faces potential misdemeanor charges of Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Narcotic Paraphernalia, and Possession of Burglary Tools. Rodriguez was also on felony parole. He is being held without bail and is scheduled to appear in Santa Clarita Superior Court on February 11, 2010. Deputies recovered more than 100 items of evidence including cellphones, iPods, jewelry, purses, GPS systems, cameras, wallets, MP3 players, and other valuables, all of which they believe were stolen in several  other Santa Clarita vehicle burglaries. Deputies had been searching for the suspect for some time and finally got their man thanks to an alert Castaic neighborhood.   

In a second unrelated early morning incident on Sunday January 24, 2010, deputies were patrolling in the area of Whites Canyon and Delight Street, Canyon Country when they spotted two men sitting in a parked car in a residential neighborhood at 2:00 a.m. When the deputies stopped to talk to the men, they started the car and sped off. Deputies followed the car to Crosspath Avenue where both occupants bailed out and began running. Several deputies converged on the area and a containment was established. The deputies determined the car had been stolen that same night from the North Hills area and had not yet been reported. 

A lengthy yard-to-yard search was conducted, but the suspects were not located. Deputies remained in the area and sometime later a Santa Clarita Sheriff's patrol sergeant spotted a man near a parked vehicle in a residential driveway. The man attempted to hide by crawling underneath the truck, but the sergeant quickly detained him. The original deputies positively identified the man as the driver of the earlier stolen vehicle. The man, Saul Sanchez, MH/21, a suspected gang member from Panorama City, was booked at the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station on a felony charge of Taking a Vehicle Without the Owner's Consent and misdemeanor charges of being Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Narcotic Paraphernalia, Loitering on Private Property, and Resist or Obstruct a Peace Officer. He is being held in lieu of $20,000 bail and is scheduled to appear in Santa Clarita Superior Court on February 19, 2010.

Great job Santa Clarita!

The investigations are ongoing and there is no further information available at this time. -ref 00918, 01341

If You See Something, Say Something!  Report non-emergency crime anonymously by visiting the following link: Crime Tips or calling (661) 284-2-TIP / (661) 284-2847. Residents should also visit http://www.crimereports.com/ to keep up with incidents reported in and around their neighborhood.

Always verify the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff Station's information and news releases by visiting our Web site at SCVSheriff, the city of Santa Clarita's Web site at Santa-Clarita, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Web site at LASD or a trusted local news source. Five other local news outlets are KHTS AM-1220, The Signal, Santa Clarita Valley Nonprofit News Center, The West Ranch Beacon and Santa Clarita Guide. For questions regarding this release, contact Sergeant Harris at (661) 799-5814.

How The State of California Affects Los Angeles County Public Safety

How the STATE OF CALIFORNIA budget affects

Los Angeles County

public safety

by

Sheriff Leroy D. Baca

Our economic problems and California’s budget crisis has impacted every level of government: state, county, and city.  Painful cuts have been and will continue to be made in all areas.  Inevitably up and down the state, counties and local governments are looking at another year of reduced budgets and additional cuts.  I write this to share with you what impacts these cuts will have on public safety and on our communities.
 
Legislators wrote and passed Senate Bill 18 (SBX3 18) which took effect on January 25, 2010. This measure was written as a way for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) to decrease its budget by cutting the amount of time sentenced inmates serve in prison by increasing sentencing credits for jail and prison inmates.  It also removes certain prisoners who would normally be released on a “supervised parole”, meaning the parolee would have a parole agent and a detailed program of re-entry and places them on unsupervised parole better known as “summary parole”.
 
While a firm number of parolees in Los Angeles County eligible for the unsupervised parole, is not yet known, CDCR is reviewing over 7,000 Los Angeles County parolees.  When the release occurs, the offender will be unsupervised, released without a plan or program for proper and safe re-entry into our communities and with no accountability.  Fortunately, for the residents of Los Angeles County, we are working together with the Board of Supervisors, various county public health and human services departments, and other local law enforcement agencies in attempting to reach out to these parolees and letting them know of the services that are out there to help them and give them the support they need.  This is by no means an adequate replacement for supervised parole but it’s better than providing no help at all.
 
Unfortunately, in the state’s 2010-11 budget and a Federal Court Panel’s mandate, there are plans for even more serious cuts to the CDCR budget that will have an immediate negative impact on the public safety of our communities.  Under the budget proposal, at least 11 current crimes in which a person could be convicted of a felony and sent to state prison, including such crimes, as grand theft, receiving stolen property, possession of methamphetamine, and auto theft, would be changed to an “administrative felony” in which the person would still be convicted of a felony, but he or she would be sentenced to 366 days and placed in the county jail.   Thus, the proposal shifts the responsibility of these inmates from the state onto the local county jail system.
 
While this will certainly create a savings for the state, it is irresponsible to shift the costs to counties.  Additionally, this will have a serious negative impact on public safety.  The Los Angeles County Jail system is already a severely overcrowded system that has population controls placed on it by a federal court.  If the Governor’s proposal were in fact to become law, as of today, this would mean the Los Angeles County Jail would have to house approximately 1,900 additional inmates that would currently be sentenced to state prison.  Since we are already at capacity, this would force me to comply with the federal court order and reduce the amount of time one spends in jail to a fraction of what they were sentenced to.  Again, the state’s proposal clearly shifts the state problem onto counties and local communities.
 
Over the last decade, I and other local law enforcement leaders have worked closely with the Governor and legislature to deal with various public safety issues and I fully expect to continue that stance this year.  However, I am increasingly concerned about proposals related to parole, county jails and increased local responsibility at a time when we are struggling to fund and manage our current responsibilities and inmate populations.  We urge careful scrutiny of these proposals and that the Governor and legislature weigh fiscal benefit against public safety impact before making further changes this year.

If You See Something, Say Something!  Report non-emergency crime anonymously by visiting the following link: Crime Tips or calling (661) 284-2-TIP / (661) 284-2847. Residents should also visit http://www.crimereports.com/ to keep up with incidents reported in and around their neighborhood.

Always verify the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff Station's information and news releases by visiting our Web site at SCVSheriff, the city of Santa Clarita's Web site at Santa-Clarita, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Web site at LASD or a trusted local news source. Five other local news outlets are KHTS AM-1220, The Signal, Santa Clarita Valley Nonprofit News Center, The West Ranch Beacon and Santa Clarita Guide. For questions regarding this release, contact Sergeant Harris at (661) 799-5814.

Sheriffs Crack Health Club Theft Ring

Commit Crime? - Not in the Santa Clarita Valley! Deputies from the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station Have Identified Two Men Suspected in Several Thefts from Local Health Clubs -   

Detectives from the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station's Burglary and Theft team have put an end to a burglary theft ring that has been operating at various health clubs and fitness centers in Santa Clarita, the San Fernando Valley, Burbank and North Hollywood for several months. 

In December, a Santa Clarita resident reported he believed someone had removed the keys from his gym locker, located his car, taken credit cards from his wallet, replaced them with credit cards belonging to other people and returned his keys to his locker -- all while he was working out inside the L.A .Fitness at 28211 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia.   

Investigating detectives found that was in fact the case and began tracing and tracking charges and purchases made with the stolen cards at local retail outlets and items sold on e-Bay. The suspects were apparently replacing the credit cards with other previously stolen credit cards from the same credit card companies in an ill-faded attempt to buy themselves time to use the newly stolen cards.

Video evidence and other investigative techniques proved key as detectives were able to make a positive identification on two Arleta men they suspected in the thefts. Using information obtained during the investigation, Santa Clarita detectives obtained and served three search warrants on locations in Pacoima, North Hollywood and Northridge on Thursday, January 14, 2010.

At the Northridge location, detectives recovered more than 200 credit cards they believe to be stolen in the names of 130 different people. Detectives also recovered more than 50 high-end watches valued at more than $100,000, computers, forged California Driver Licenses, L.A. Fitness gym membership cards, ammunition, video game consoles, video cameras and several tools commonly used to commit locker and vehicle burglaries. Detectives believe there may be additional victims who do not even know they are carrying credit cards that do not belong to them. They are asking persons who frequent local health clubs, particularly L.A. Fitness, to check their personal and financial documents in order to determine if they have been victimized. All Santa Clarita cases should be immediately reported to the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station. 

One of the suspects, Darryl Battino, MW/49, turned himself in to the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station on January 25, 2010. He was booked on felony burglary charges. He later posted $20,000 bond and was released pending future court proceedings. His brother, Michael Battino, MW/37, 
(pictured here) is still being sought for questioning only in connection with the thefts. He has been in contact with detectives, but has so far failed to turn himself in.  

Detectives would like to remind Santa Clarita residents that they can minimize the likelihood of falling victim to this type of crime by keeping their car keys with them at all times, not leaving valuables in their vehicles or gym lockers, limiting the number of credit cards carried in their purses or wallets (in some of these cases people were carrying 15 or more credit cards), and never carrying social security cards in your wallet. Also, if possible, leave your watches and other valuables at home when going to the gym.   

Anyone with additional information regarding these suspects or these incidents of burglary and theft are asked to contact the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff Station's Burglary and Theft team or report tips anonymously as indicated below. The investigation is continuing and there is no further information available at this time. - ref 09-21961

If You See Something, Say Something!  Report non-emergency crime anonymously by visiting the following link: Crime Tips or calling (661) 284-2-TIP / (661) 284-2847. Residents should also visit http://www.crimereports.com/ to keep up with incidents reported in and around their neighborhood.

Always verify the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff Station's information and news releases by visiting our Web site at SCVSheriff, the city of Santa Clarita's Web site at Santa-Clarita, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Web site at LASD or a trusted local news source. Five other local news outlets are KHTS AM-1220, The Signal, Santa Clarita Valley Nonprofit News Center, The West Ranch Beacon and Santa Clarita Guide. For questions regarding this release, contact Sergeant Harris at (661) 799-5814.

**Law enforcement note: The person(s) identified and pictured in this release should not be arrested or transported. Contact the investigating detective to determine appropriate action to be taken. 

Pizza Store Robber Delivered to Jail

Commit Crime? - Not in the Santa Clarita Valley! Man Suspected in Armed Robbery at Vincenzo's Pizza on January 8th is Behind Bars after Technology Aids Detectives -   

A Canoga Park man picked the wrong town in which to commit an armed robbery! On Friday, January 8, 2010, a heavily disguised man entered the Vincenzo's Pizza at 20701 Plum Canyon Road, Saugus, just before 10:00 p.m., ordered food and then pulled a handgun from his sweatshirt pocket and demanded money. The suspect obtained an undisclosed amount of currency and fled the area. A nearby deputy was flagged down and the search was on for the suspect as numerous deputies converged on the area. The suspect managed to temporarily avoid apprehension, but what he didn't account for was the countless high quality video camera surveillance systems in the area and special patrol cars equipped with Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) technology. The evidence obtained was more than enough for for savvy Santa Clarita detectives assigned to the Robbery and Assault team to work with.  

As the investigation continued in the following days, the detective on the case was able to identify a potential suspect as James William Brammer, MW/57, who was paroled from state prison in April 2009 after serving an 18 year sentence for armed robbery.  Detectives learned of several other robberies in areas patrolled by the Los Angeles Police Department, as well as one robbery in Frazier Park. The suspect's information was turned over to the Los Angeles Police Department who ultimately arrested the suspect on January 24, 2010. Today 16 felony counts of Robbery were filed on the suspect.

Brammer is being held in lieu of $250,000 bail pending future court proceedings. 

Anyone with additional information regarding this suspect or these incidents of robbery are asked to contact the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff Station's Robbery and Assault team or report tips anonymously as indicated below.  The investigation is continuing and there is no further information available at this time. - ref 00486

If You See Something, Say Something!  Report non-emergency crime anonymously by visiting the following link: Crime Tips or calling (661) 284-2-TIP / (661) 284-2847.  Residents should also visit http://www.crimereports.com/ to keep up with the types of incidents that are being reported in and around their neighborhood.

Always verify the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff Station's information and news releases by visiting our Web site at SCVSheriff, the City of Santa Clarita's Web site at Santa-Clarita, the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department's Web site at LASD or a trusted local news source.  Five other local news outlets are KHTS AM-1220, The Signal, Santa Clarita Valley Nonprofit News Center, The West Ranch Beacon, and Santa Clarita Guide.  For questions regarding this release, contact Sergeant Harris at (661) 799-5814.

Special Operation Nets Vehicle Burglary Suspect

Tuesday - January 26, 2010 - 10:50 a.m. - Santa Clarita:

Commit Crime? - Not in the Santa Clarita Valley! - During the past several weeks a number of vehicle burglaries have taken place in various parking lots near LA Fitness health clubs in the Santa Clarita Valley. The suspects targeted vehicles they perceived to be associated with LA Fitness patrons.

This morning, detectives from the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff Station’s Burglary and Theft Team, along with the station’s Community Interaction Team (CIT), conducted surveillance operations at several LA Fitness locations in Santa Clarita. During the surveillance operation, a suspect was seen breaking into a parked vehicle and stealing property from it. Nearby deputies were called in and apprehended the suspect as he was attempting to leave the area.

The suspect was arrested and his vehicle was impounded. Inside his vehicle, detectives found property taken during the vehicle burglary they observed today and additional property belonging to other victims who had previously reported their vehicles were broken into. The detectives served a search warrant at the suspect’s residence where additional property was recovered.The Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station would like to remind all residents about how they can reduce the likelihood of being a victim of burglary or theft. Despite the fact that several burglars and thieves have been arrested over the past several weeks, more groups seem to show up in their place. The single biggest crime prevention tip we can provide pertaining to these burglaries is to avoid being an easy or inviting target. Please read the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station crime prevention information on our web site at the following link: Burglary and Theft Prevention Tips.

The suspect, MH/19 of Saugus, was booked at the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station on felony Burglary charges. He is being held in lieu of $150,000 bail pending future court proceedings. Due to the ongoing investigation the suspect’s name is not being released at this time.

Immediately report suspicious persons or vehicles in your neighborhoods to the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station by calling (661) 255-1121.  DO NOT WAIT!  Anyone with additional information regarding this suspect or these incidents of burglary are asked to contact the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff Station's Burglary and Theft team or report tips anonymously as indicated below.  The investigation is continuing and there is no further information available at this time. - ref 01446

If You See Something, Say Something!  Report non-emergency crime anonymously by visiting the following link: Crime Tips or calling (661) 284-2-TIP / (661) 284-2847.  Residents should also visit http://www.crimereports.com/ to keep up with the types of incidents that are being reported in and around their neighborhood.

Always verify the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff Station's information and news releases by visiting our Web site at SCVSheriff, the City of Santa Clarita's Web site at Santa-Clarita, the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department's Web site at LASD or a trusted local news source.  Five other local news outlets are KHTS AM-1220, The Signal, Santa Clarita Valley Nonprofit News Center, The West Ranch Beacon, and Santa Clarita Guide.  For questions regarding this release, contact Sergeant Harris at (661) 799-5814.

Window Smash Car Burglar Behind Bars

Wednesday - January 20, 2010 - 7:00 p.m. - Saugus:

Commit Crime? - Not in the Santa Clarita Valley! -  A Simi Valley man suspected in several window smash car burglaries is behind bars thanks to great detective work and an observant deputy. Detectives had been investigating several window smash vehicle burglaries that occurred at some time during the night on January 7th and 8th on Winterdale Drive, Shadyview Drive, and Nearview Drive, Canyon Country. At least three of the burglaries occurred after the vehicle owners had left valuable items such as laptops, purses, and cell phones in plain view inside there cars overnight.

In two of the incidents, the suspect smashed the car window and made off with the valuables. But the suspect's crime spree ended Wednesday night when he returned to the Santa Clarita Valley, presumably to commit more crime. 

Detectives working the cases used investigative techniques to obtain video footage of the suspect and his vehicle. That information was put into a Sheriff's Department Special Bulletin and briefed to all Santa Clarita patrol deputies. On Wednesday night, a Santa Clarita Deputy spotted the suspect vehicle in the 22000 block of Copperhill Drive, Saugus. A traffic stop was conducted and deputies found an abundance of stolen items and other evidence. Deputies also determined the car the suspect was driving had been stolen out of Ventura. When all was said and done, more than 80 items of evidence were recovered, some linked directly back to the Canyon Country vehicle burglaries. Deputies found check books, purses, wallets, credit cards, GPS systems, laptop computers, numerous financial documents, and tools commonly used to commit burglaries. They even found a replica firearm. 

The suspect, Colton Yanello, MW/19, of Simi Valley also had two no bail felony warrants for taking a vehicle without the owners consent and possession of a controlled substance. He was booked at the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station on felony charges of Taking a Vehicle Without the Owners Consent and Receiving Stolen Property. He was also booked on the warrants and a misdemeanor charge of Possession of Burglary Tools. He is being held without bail pending future court proceedings. Detectives believe the same suspect may be responsible for other burglaries in the Santa Clarita Valley.

During the investigation, the suspect reportedly told deputies that he only breaks into cars where he sees valuable items such as IPODs, purses or computers in view.  

The Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station would like to use this opportunity to remind all residents about how they can reduce the likelihood of being a victim of burglary or theft and how they can help us protect our community.  Please read the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff Station's crime prevention information at the following link: Burglary and Theft Prevention Tips.   

Immediately report suspicious persons or vehicles in your neighborhoods to the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station by calling (661) 255-1121.  DO NOT WAIT!  Anyone with additional information regarding this suspect or these incidents of burglary are asked to contact the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff Station's Burglary and Theft team or report tips anonymously as indicated below.  The investigations are ongoing and there is no further information available at this time. - ref 00409, 00410,00470, 01163

If You See Something, Say Something!  Report non-emergency crime anonymously by visiting the following link: Crime Tips or calling (661) 284-2-TIP / (661) 284-2847.  Residents should also visit www.crimereports.com to keep up with the types of incidents that are being reported in and around their neighborhood.

Always verify the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff Station's information and news releases by visiting our Web site at SCVSheriff, the City of Santa Clarita's Web site at Santa-Clarita, the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department's Web site at LASD or a trusted local news source.  Four other local news outlets are KHTS AM-1220, The Signal, Santa Clarita Valley Nonprofit News Center, and The West Ranch Beacon.  For questions regarding this release, contact Sergeant Harris at (661) 799-5814.

Shooting Investigation - Newhall

Thursday - January 21, 2010 - 7:20 p.m. - Newhall:

Detectives from the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff Station's COBRA team are investigating a shooting incident that occurred yesterday evening near Newhall Avenue and Valle Del Oro, Newhall.   

Deputies responded to the area after a caller reported hearing 10-15 gunshots.  When deputies arrived they found evidence that a shooting had occurred, but no suspects or victims were located.  Detectives from the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff Station's COBRA team immediately responded and began a follow up investigation.  The investigation led deputies to a hospital outside of the station area where a person of interest, MH/19, of Newhall was being treated for an apparent gunshot wound.

Detectives later served a search warrant at an apartment in the 27000 block of Via Canon, Newhall in connection with the case.  The investigation is continuing and is being handled by the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff Station's COBRA team.  The shooting appears to be gang related.    

Anyone with any information regarding this incident should immediately contact Detective Pat O'Neill, (661) 799-5154, or Detective Adam Dorman, (661) 799-5176, of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's COBRA Team. There is no further information available at this time.  -ref 01219

If You See Something, Say Something!  Report non-emergency crime anonymously by visiting the following link: Crime Tips or calling (661) 284-2-TIP / (661) 284-2847. 

Always verify the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff Station's information and news releases by visiting our website at SCVSheriff, the City of Santa Clarita's website at Santa-Clarita, the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department's website at LASD or a trusted local news source.  Four other local news outlets are KHTS AM-1220, The Signal, Santa Clarita Valley Nonprofit News Center, and The West Ranch Beacon.  For questions regarding this release, contact Sergeant Harris at (661) 799-5814.   

Nightmare Tenants Finally Reside in Station Jail

Tuesday, January 19, 2010 - 7:00 a.m. - Valencia

Commit Crime, Not in Santa Clarita! - A husband and wife were arrested this morning after a lengthy investigation involving identity theft.  It was finally discovered that this couple who provide false documentation, fail to pay their rent, and fight being evicted, have been playing this scam over and over again.  They have victimized at least three Valencia apartment complexes and have been residing here rent free for the past four years.  Their three children attend local schools.  

The scam has been working well, but this time they got caught.  The Town Center Apartment manager contacted the Sheriff's Station regarding a check written on a fraudulent checking account.  Investigation revealed that the Social Security number provided belonged to another person.  Several names which have been used were uncovered and it became apparent that this couple had scammed this complex in the past, under different names.  

This morning, detectives from the Burglary/Fraud team went to the apartment and served a search warrant, ultimately arresting the couple, Rodney Higgs M/42 and Shonte Johnston F/39, for identity theft and grand theft.  An adult son, Diamonique Reyes M/20, who was visiting, was arrested for interfering in the arrest and investigation.  The couple have three other children, an 18-year-old, who was not at the apartment this morning having already left for school, and two minor children, ages 15 and 13, who were taken into protective custody.   

Higgs is being held in lieu of $50,000 bail and Johnston is being held in lieu of $20,000.  Both are currently being held at Santa Clarita Valley Station.  Reyes is being held pending positive identification.  The minor children were released to the Department of Children and Family Services.   

Detectives believe this scam has been used on other unsuspecting apartment complexes in the area.  Rodney Higgs is known to have used the following names in the past: Cameron Davis, Branden Higgs, Amaurie Johnston, and Branden Trevon.  Shonte Johnston is known to have used the name Shonte Higgs in the past.  We are actively seeking additional victim properties.  If you believe the property you represent has been victimized by this couple, please contact Detective Nale at (661) 799-5137 or (661) 255-1121.    

The investigation is ongoing and there is no further information available at this time.  -ref 00884

If You See Something, Say Something! Report non-emergency crime anonymously by visiting the following link: Crime Tips or calling (661) 284-2-TIP / (661) 284-2847. 

Always verify the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff Station's information and news releases by visiting our website at SCVSheriff, the City of Santa Clarita's website at Santa-Clarita, the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department's website at LASD or a trusted local news source.  Four other local news outlets are KHTS AM-1220, The Signal, Santa Clarita Valley Nonprofit News Center, and The West Ranch Beacon.  For questions regarding this release, contact Lieutenant Cambra at (661) 799-5815.   

Shooting Investigation - Extremely Critical Condition

Date: Wednesday - January 13, 2010
Time of Occurrence / Discovery: 11:00 p.m. 
Location: 29100 Block of Flower Park Drive, Canyon Country

Sheriff's Homicide Detectives responded to the 29100 block of Flower Park Drive, Canyon Country to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting of a woman which occurred on January 13, 2010.

The woman was transported to a local hospital where she is listed in extremely critical condition.

There is no further information available at this time.

Initial Press Release - Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau - www.lasd.org

The investigation is ongoing and is being handled by the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department's Homicide Bureau.  Anyone with any information should contact them at (323) 890-5500 or Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau at (323) 526-5541.  There is no further information available at this time. -ref SHB-11-January 14, 2010-0730 hours

If You See Something, Say Something! Report non-emergency crime anonymously by visiting the following link: Crime Tips or calling (661) 284-2-TIP / (661) 284-2847. 

Always verify the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff Station's information and news releases by visiting our website at SCVSheriff, the City of Santa Clarita's website at Santa-Clarita, the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department's website at LASD or a trusted local news source.  Four other local news outlets are KHTS AM-1220, The Signal, Santa Clarita Valley Nonprofit News Center, and The West Ranch Beacon.  For questions regarding this release, contact Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau at (323) 526-5541.