SWEEP NETS 14 VALLEY ARRESTS PROBATION CASES LEAD TO SEARCHES.

Byline: CAROL ROCK Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA -- Nearly 100 deputies swarmed through areas of Canyon Country, Valencia and Newhall Wednesday morning, arresting 14 people and confiscating swastika-emblazoned knives, two guns and several bags of narcotics during a probation and warrant sweep.

The largest cache of weapons came from a location on Reservoir Avenue in eastern Canyon Country. Three people were arrested at that location.

Ten men and four women were booked on a variety of possible charges, from felony weapons possession to production and possession of controlled substances. Los Angeles county Child Protective Services workers who accompanied the deputies took one child out of a home they determined was an unfit environment for the youngster.

``It was a cleanliness thing, no arrests were made at that location,'' said Sgt. Phil E. Morris, who coordinated the effort.

Detectives confiscated crystal methamphetamine, heroin and rock cocaine as well as pipes, scales and other drug paraphernalia. Additional evidence included a small automatic gun, daggers, several oversized, multi-surfaced knives, nunchukas and martial arts throwing stars. The street value of the drugs confiscated exceeded $6,000.

At one location, Morris said that the individual wanted by detectives was not at the location, but deputies were allowed access to the home and conducted a search.

``We found evidence that links this individual to a lot of tagging incidents in the city of Santa Clarita,'' he said. ``The investigation is ongoing, but I'm positive there will be some arrests made on that.''

Personnel from the county sheriff and probation departments participated in the sweep. Along with the 14 arrests for new drugs and weapons charges, 42 probation violators were cited and eight warrants will be issued for individuals on probation who were not at their registered locations.

Morris said the multi-agency sweeps are done every few months because the probation department is overwhelmed with its caseload and needs the help.

``We did a big sweep like this in March and took 19 into custody,'' he said. ``This one worked out well because we were able to do it on a day where nobody had to work on overtime and they were able to take their time to conduct a thorough search.''

carol.rock(at)dailynews.com

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CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1) These varied weapons are among evidence seized in the Santa Clarita Valley on Wednesday during a sweep by the county Sheriff's Department in cooperation with the Probation Department.

(2) no caption (weapons)

L.A. County Sheriff's Department