SWEEP NETS WEAPONS, MORE OFFICIALS LEAD INSPECTIONS FOR PROBATION COMPLIANCE.

Byline: Amy Raisin Darvish Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - Surprise sweeps Thursday of homes of more than 40 vandalism and gang-related probationers netted two arrests, a shotgun, knives, a stolen street sign and other contraband, authorities said.

Eight county probation officers, assisted by more than a dozen Santa Clarita sheriff's deputies, fanned out across the valley at 7 a.m. to conduct probationary compliance inspections in search of weapons, drugs and graffiti-related materials.

``One of the conditions of probation is to submit to a search by a peace officer at any time, with or without a warrant,'' said Craig Levy, supervising deputy probation officer for Los Angeles County. ``This sweep, we're looking at (people on) probation for tagging, vandalism and gang-related offenses.''

Depending on the type of probation an offender is serving, a violation can include the possession of a weapon, drugs or drug paraphernalia, or even a piece of paper bearing gang-related graffiti.

Most of the probationers in Thursday's sweep were juveniles, so most of the searches were concentrated in their bedrooms rather than the entire residence.

The shotgun, however, was discovered in the Castaic bedroom of the father of an 18-year-old probationer. The weapon was confiscated because it was accessible to the teen, a violation of his probation.

The probationer was at work when the team arrived for the inspection, a positive sign that the man is trying to stay out of trouble, according to the search team. The man's mother invited the team inside to search the residence and voluntarily directed them to closet containing a bag of BB guns.

``If you have a kid who makes a mistake but he's working his way out of it and is holding a job, we try to give him the benefit of the doubt,'' sheriff's Detective Pat O'Neill said. ``We want these guys to succeed and (satisfy) their probation term.''

Based on the parents' cooperation and the probationer's clean record so far, deputies opted not to take the man into custody. However, all weapons and contraband confiscated from the residence will be logged and noted in a report submitted for the court's review.

Items confiscated in the sweep included the shotgun, eight BB guns - five of which were replicas of handguns or assault rifles - brass knuckles, a package of fireworks, four knives, illegal steroids and some marijuana, Levy said.

The fireworks, a knife and a BB gun replica assault rifle confiscated from a Castaic residence - the 16-year-old on probation for vandalism was not home, but his brother answered the door - gave investigators more than enough reason to return for an interview with the teen in the next few days.

``The fireworks concerned me because they're held by a person who lives at the base of a canyon,'' Levy said. ``You light one of those things off and we could easily be looking at a major forest fire. We find all kinds of things on searches.''

The sweep was part of the DISARM program - Developing Increased Safety Through Arms Recovery Management - initiated by county Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich following the 1999 shootings at a Jewish community center in Granada Hills.

Since February 2000, the DISARM program has seized 1,532 weapons and more than $8 million in illegal drugs and drug money, according to Antonovich's office. More than 3,300 arrests are credited to the program, as well.

Amy Raisin Darvish, [phone]

amy.raisin(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Cameron McGann is detained for possible probation violations during a sweep Thursday morning throughout the Santa Clarita Valley conducted by sheriff's deputies working in conjunction with probation officers.

(2 -- color) Deputy Probation Officer Laura Bryce checks her computer Thursday after confiscating fireworks, a knife and a pellet gun from a probationer in the Castaic area.

Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer