HOMELESS CAMP IN A.V. FIELD IS RAIDED 19 PEOPLE ARRESTED SITE IS DEMOLISHED.

Byline: KAREN MAESHIRO

Staff Writer

LANCASTER -- Sheriff's deputies arrested 19 people Friday at a homeless encampment in a vacant field as part of an effort to address theft- and drug-related crime in the area.

The encampment, which contained wooden huts and 5-foot-deep holes, was razed to prevent the homeless from returning to that locale, near Avenue J and Division Street, deputies said.

"They built five structures out of plywood and scrap metal and dug elaborate structures beneath ground level," Sgt. Adam Ellison said. "It's unsanitary and unsafe."

One person was arrested on suspicion of receiving stolen property that was taken in a burglary, four had felony warrants out for their arrests and four were wanted on misdemeanor warrants, Ellison said.

Ten others were cited for illegal camping. Four women were among the 19 people taken into custody.

Ellison said the people at the camp repeatedly were warned to leave.

"One guy was arrested two days ago and was here today," Ellison said.

The operation involved Los Angeles County firefighters, who cleared and burned brush. The Sheriff's Department worked with the city to get dump trucks and bulldozers to clear debris and fill in the holes, Ellison said.

The raid was the second one in as many months.

In January, deputies arrested 16 people at a homeless encampment in the 45300 block of Trevor Avenue on suspicion of charges ranging from parole violations and trespassing to drug possession.

About 4,000 homeless people are estimated to live in the Antelope Valley, according to a study commissioned by Grace Resource Center, a faith-based charity that provides food and outreach to the homeless and indigent.

Center officials have said about 40 percent of the homeless men in the Antelope Valley are veterans.

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