In recent weeks the Beacon has been regularly posting local crime reports from the Sheriff’s department. What I have noticed is that these reports have been an eye opener in regards to the amount of drug and other crimes in the Canyon Country area.

With the recent Sheriff press release regarding the Sexual Assault suspect being sought in Canyon Country it appears that there are areas over there have a fair bit of crime week in and week out. Now, I realize that I am opening myself up to criticism by singling out Canyon Country but it is obvious from the crime reports. Canyon Country jumps out off the crime reports just take a look at some of the excerpts from some recent reports:

Thursday – March 29, 2007 – 3:00 a.m. – Canyon Country: A Canyon Country man was arrested after Deputy D’Antonio detained him in the parking lot of the Canyon Country Wal Mart early Thursday.  Deputy D’Antonio reports that he found drugs in his vehicle.  The suspect, MW/32, was booked at the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station on felony charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance (methamphetamine) and Possession of a Controlled Substance (Vicodin).  He is being held in lieu of $10,000 bail.  -ref 05916   

Thursday – March 29, 2007 – 12:15 a.m. – Canyon Country: Deputy Reyes arrested two suspects on drug related charges Thursday after stopping them near Hideaway Avenue and Soledad Canyon Road.  Deputies reportedly located drugs and items commonly used in the sales of controlled substances in the vehicle.  The driver, FH/20, of Canyon Country was booked at the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station on felony charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance (methamphetamine) and Possession of a Controlled Substance for Sale.  She is being held in lieu of $15,000 bail.  The passenger, MH/24, of Los Angeles was booked at the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station on a felony charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance (methamphetamine).  He is being held without bail on a parole hold.  -ref 05909 

Wednesday – March 28, 2007 – 1:20 a.m. – Canyon Country: Deputy Greene arrested a Canyon Country woman on drug related charges early Wednesday morning after a traffic stop near Soledad Canyon Road and Sierra Highway.  The suspect, FW/38, was booked at the Santa Clarita Sheriff’s Station on a felony charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance (methamphetamine).  She is being held in lieu of $12,500 bail.  -ref 05845

Wednesday – March 28, 2007 – 9:50 p.m. – Canyon Country: Acton man arrested on drug charges – Deputies Rooney and Chen stopped a vehicle near Carl Boyer Drive and Centre Point Parkway and through investigation found the driver, MW/48, was in possession of a controlled substance.  The suspect was booked at the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station on a felony charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance (methamphetamine) and misdemeanor charges of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Driver in Possession of Marijuana.  He is being held in lieu of $10,000 bail.  -ref 05901

Monday – March 26, 2007 – 6:45 p.m. – Canyon Country:  Thorough investigation by patrol deputy leads to auto theft arrest – Deputy Akchyan arrested Dustin Leavitt, MW/22, Transient, on suspicion of grand theft auto Monday evening after detaining him in the 2400 block of Orchard Village Road, Newhall.  The vehicle was reportedly taken from a Valencia auto dealership where the owner had left it for service.  The suspect was booked at the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station on a felony Grand Theft Charge.  He was also on probation and is being held without bail.  -ref 05743

Monday- March 26, 2007 -8:28 p.m. -Unincorporated L. A. County – Canyon Country: A Canyon Country youth was arrested Monday evening after physically resisting deputies attempts to detain him for a violation of the California Vehicle Code and a narcotics investigation, near Fahren Court and Canyon Park Boulevard.  The subject, MB/17, was booked at the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station on misdemeanor charges of Resist, Obstruct; Delay a Peace Officer and Battery on a Peace Officer.  He was released to a parent pending future court proceedings.  -ref 05747 Friday – March 23, 2007 – 3:55 a.m. – Unincorporated L. A. County – Canyon Country: Two suspects were arrested early Friday morning on multiple felony charges including Burglary and Receiving Stolen Property.  Deputies Griffy and Hernandez conducted a traffic stop near Rock Rose Lane and Jakes Way, Unincorporated Canyon Country and found the suspects had possession of more than one hundred items believed to have been stolen.  The deputies recovered purses, electronic items, identification and financial documents belonging to other people.  The driver of the vehicle, MH/20, of Canyon Country was booked at the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station on felony charges of Burglary and Receiving Stolen Property.  He is being held in lieu of $20,000 bail.  His passenger, MH/20, of Canyon Country was booked at the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station on felony charges of Burglary and Receiving Stolen Property – misdemeanor charges of Possession of Burglary and Vandalism Tools.  He is being held in lieu of $20,000 bail.  -ref 05487

Friday – March 23, 2007 – 8:15 p.m. – Canyon Country: Deputies Norian and Burrow arrested a Canyon Country man Friday evening after detaining him on a bicycle path behind a business at the 18300 block of Soledad Canyon Road, Canyon Country.  The deputies reported the suspect unlawfully possessed a milk crate.  The suspect, Selvin Barrios, MH/28, was booked at the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station for a misdemeanor charge of Unauthorized Possession of Dairy Equipment.  He was additionally charged with Providing False Information to a Peace Officer when he gave a false name during the booking process.  It was determined he was on active felony parole and is being held without bail pending United States Immigration Proceedings.  -ref 05553

Friday – March 23, 2007 – 8:40 p.m. -Canyon Country: Deputies Norian and Burrow arrested a Newhall man for Possession of a Controlled Substance.  The suspect, MW/19, was booked at the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station on a felony charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance (Norco).  He is being held in lieu of $10,000 bail.  -ref 05556

Saturday – March 24, 2007 – 8:26 p.m. – Canyon Country: A Pomona man was arrested Saturday evening when he reportedly attempted to use fraudulent information and identification to purchase items at the Canyon Country Wal-Mart Store.  He attempted to flee and was detained by store personnel and an off-duty police officer until deputies arrived.  The suspect, Demetrius Lockhart, MB/31, was booked at the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station on felony Burglary and Forgery charges.  He was released on bond pending future court proceedings.  -ref 05619

Sunday – March 25, 2007 – 2:08 a.m. – Canyon Country: Deputy Hodge arrested a Canyon Country man early Sunday after reportedly finding metal knuckles in his vehicle.  The suspect, Christopher Hatton, MW/23, was booked at the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station on a felony charge of Possessing a Deadly Weapon and a misdemeanor charge of Driving on a Suspended License.  He is being held in lieu of $20,000 bail.  -ref 05629

My God, it’s a cornucopia of crime! But I must say the scourge of drugs, especially methamphetamine, appears to be a major issue in parts of Canyon Country. Of course, there is some level of crime everywhere; that’s unavoidable. The West Ranch communities certainly have had some level of crime over the years but it has been well documented that to be very low in relative terms. I have to say though that the crime reports speak for themselves.

Without question there is a disproportionate amount of criminal activity in parts of Canyon Country. It seems that the City of Santa Clarita needs to allocate more police resources into that area to quell that unlawful behavior.

But that would cost money and where would those funds come from? It truly is no wonder why some residents in the City are so vocal on wanting to annex areas on the west side of the Santa Clarita valley. I am pointing this out because again there are underlying motivations to some of these vocal individuals who, for the most part, do not live in the West Ranch communities. As I showed you with Pauline Harte, once I ask questions like; do you live in a West Ranch community? or what is your affiliation with the City of Santa Clarita?; they usually don’t want to answer. That is because those types of questions expose, at least some part, their motives in being so outspoken on getting their hands on what appears to be a revenue loaded area.

In the coming months there may be more individuals popping up out of the wood work screaming for annexation of the west side. My advice to you would be to be patient and wait for the two reports that are being commissioned; the Initial Feasibility Analysis and the Community Governmental Status Options Comparison.

These two reports will yield valuable information that will be a basis for the residents of the un-incorporated areas on the west side of the Santa Clarita Valley to make an informed and educated choice as to how to proceed forward. Whatever that choice is, it will be up to the residents that live in those un-incorporated areas. Question the motives of those that don’t live in our community and whatever you do, keep your car doors locked when driving through Canyon Country!

Dave Bossert

Commentary

Dave Bossert is a community volunteer who serves on a number of boards and councils. His commentaries represent his own opinions and not necessarily the views of any organization he may be affiliated with or those of the West Ranch Beacon.