MILITIA SUSPECT'S ARREST SHOCKING : FRIENDS, CO-WORKERS AT A LOSS TO EXPLAIN WEAPONS STOCKPILE.

Byline: Lisa Van Proyen Daily News Staff Writer

Friends and co-workers on Monday described a Santa Clarita man arrested as a suspected militia member as a hard-working, honest and kind-hearted person.

But police conveyed a different image of Raymond Durand, 33, as they prepared to file a charge against him for selling an automatic weapon in a militia cell case involving over 100 high-powered firearms.

The Los Angeles Police Department arrested Durand on Friday, saying he was part of a group of five men who had stockpiled grenades with launchers, hand grenades, fully automatic rifles, body armor, ballistic helmets, night vision goggles and thousands of rounds of ammunition.

Durand was being held in jail Monday afternoon without bail, said Sgt. Richard Graff at the LAPD's Parker Center. He has no prior warrants, Graff said.

Police said the group, which also included Alvin Ung, 31, of Ontario; Mark Grand, 31, and Timothy Swanson, 43, both of Los Angeles; and Glenn Yee, 43, of San Dimas, were caught in surveillance photos training in urban warfare, including using weapons to ``clear streets,'' and shooting at targets in the shape of humans while they ran between mock buildings.

Though authorities likened the group's firepower to the Feb. 28 North Hollywood bank shootout, they refused to elaborate on the group's planned activities. However, police said they were planning domestic terrorism in the Southern California community.

Four of the suspected militia members were released on bail over the weekend, but Durand remained in custody.

Capt. Joe Curreri, the head of the Los Angeles Police Department's Anti-Terrorist Division, referred to Durand as a transient, who went from one family member's home to another. He was arrested in the 23900 block of Rotunda Road, Curreri said.

Many weapons were found in two public storage units belonging to Yee.

The captain would not say whether he plans any further searches, and said there could be more arrests. He said no arrests were made by Monday.

Meanwhile, Durand's co-workers and neighbors in his quiet neighborhood said Monday they were shocked about the man's arrest.

Stan Workman, 29, who works at Western Bagel Too in Valencia, where Durand is an assistant manager, referred to his longtime friend as a trustworthy and kind person, who would watch his two daughters, ages 10 and 11.

Workman, whose family has known Durand since he was about 6, said Durand liked to go target shooting and competes at a gun club. He said he was shocked to learn that his friend was arrested in connection with a militia. He said he never mentioned any involvement in militia groups.

``He's a normal, everyday, hard-working guy. . . . He liked shooting a lot, but stockpiling weapons? No,'' Workman said.

Workman said Durand had worked with the bagel company for about a dozen years. Durand also operated a sewing machine and vacuum repair business, Workman said. Co-workers described him as an outdoor-type who enjoys camping, fishing and hiking.

One of Durand's neighbors, Lori Powers, said she recalled Durand's generosity during the 1994 Northridge Earthquake in which he handed out free bagels to his neighbors.

He was friendly. He seemed like a nice guy,'' she said.

Powers said Durand has lived in the neighborhood for at least five years.

No family members were available for comment at his home Monday.