ILLEGAL DUMPING TURNS UP NEEDLES, ACID; PAIR CITED.Byline: Bhavna Mistry Staff Writer Two people were cited on suspicion of illegal dumping early Monday morning after two dozen used hypodermic needles, sulfuric sul·fu·ric adj. Of, relating to, or containing sulfur, especially with valence 6. sulfuric Containing sulfur, especially sulfur with a valence of 6. Compare sulfurous. Adj. 1. and muriatic acid muriatic acid: see hydrogen chloride. , and large amounts of trash were found dumped in an alleyway behind two homes, sheriff's officials said. Ryan Richardson, 20, and Laura Marsh, 58, both of Palmdale were cited on suspicion of illegal dumping in the 38800 block of Division Street after deputies found the piles of trash outside of their homes, officials said. ``It's important for us to stay on top of it,'' said Deputy Bob Longdon, in charge of a court-appointed work crew. ``If it stays too long, it could get infested in·fest tr.v. in·fest·ed, in·fest·ing, in·fests 1. To inhabit or overrun in numbers or quantities large enough to be harmful, threatening, or obnoxious: with rats.'' A local cleanup crew that works along with deputies as part of the Partners Against Crime program spotted trash last week but didn't realize the needles and chemicals were among the discarded trash. It was shortly after 8 a.m. when the crew began removing the trash that it discovered a one-gallon container of muriatic acid - commonly used to clean pools - and a 5 gallon container of sulfuric acid sulfuric acid, chemical compound, H2SO4, colorless, odorless, extremely corrosive, oily liquid. It is sometimes called oil of vitriol. Concentrated Sulfuric Acid . Both of the containers were properly labeled and also marked with the words caution, dangerous and poison on them, but officials worried that if children began to play with them they could be seriously injured. ``It's a dangerous, dangerous chemical,'' said Longdon. A Los Angeles County Fire Department Not to be confused with Los Angeles Fire Department. The Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD), serves unincorporated parts of Los Angeles County, as well as 58 cities and towns that choose to have the county provide fire and EMS services, including the City of La Hazardous Material Unit was called out to remove the two toxic chemicals found in the containers. Deputies believe that the needles were used in illicit drug illicit drug Street drug, see there activity. The work crew plans to return to the trash sites today and remove the other discarded items including bottles, a dish rack, plastic containers, two sofas, mattresses, appliances, furniture, blinds, paint cans, a sink, tires and a door to a camper shell A camper shell, sometimes known as a topper or cap, is a small housing or rigid canopy used as a pickup truck accessory. The housing is usually made of fiberglass or aluminum, and is mounted atop the pickup truck's rear bed. . ``It causes a big nuisance and hazard to the county,'' said Deputy Paul Ullman. ``Illegal dumping affects all of the Antelope Valley This article is about the Los Angeles County region. For the census-designated place in Wyoming, see Antelope Valley-Crestview, Wyoming. The Antelope Valley .'' Residents who were cited at one home said they had just moved into the home and cleared out the items from the home and garage. The previous owner had died, officials said. A woman who was cited about five doors down said that the items belonged to her husband. The trash, including bills, bank statements and magazine subscriptions, were placed on a neighboring neigh·bor n. 1. One who lives near or next to another. 2. A person, place, or thing adjacent to or located near another. 3. A fellow human. 4. Used as a form of familiar address. v. vacant lot. Although the residents at both homes claimed to have placed a portion of the items there, officials said that other people may have added to the trash piles. CAPTION(S): 3 photos Photo: (1 -- color) A cleanup crew for Partners Against Crime picks up illegally dumped trash Monday in an alleyway near Division Street. (2 -- 2 -- color) A 5 gallon container of sulfuric acid, above, was found among the piles of trash. At left, a coffee can yielded two dozen used hypodermic needles. Deputies believe that the needles were used in illicit drug activity. Shaun Dyer/Special to the Daily News |
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