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Local gang operation nets 9 arrests

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A suspect is taken into custody Tuesday during a massive search warrant operation, which focused on juveniles responsible for an east Palmdale crime spree. (Photo courtesy LASD)
A suspect is taken into custody Tuesday, June 17 during a massive search warrant operation, which focused on juveniles responsible for an east Palmdale crime spree. (Photo courtesy LASD)

PALMDALE – Teams of deputies served 13 simultaneous warrants on Tuesday, taking down the band of juvenile “thugs” allegedly responsible for multiple robberies, burglaries and assaults in Palmdale over the past several months, authorities said.

“It’s a group of mostly juveniles that have been working together and basically terrorizing east Palmdale,” said Lt. Cory Kennedy of the Palmdale Sheriff’s Station.

Numerous pieces of suspected stolen property were also recovered, including a gun from one of the warrant locations. (LASD)
Numerous pieces of suspected stolen property were also recovered, including a gun from one of the warrant locations. (LASD)

The operation began around 7 a.m. Tuesday, June 17 and included nearly 120 personnel from the Palmdale, Lancaster and Santa Clarita Sheriff Stations, as well as teams from Parole Compliance, Narcotics and Safe Streets Bureau.

The operation focused on members of a local gang who have been assaulting, robbing and burglarizing not only residents, but local retailers by “flocking” stores, according to Lieutenant Larry Gregg of the Antelope Valley Crime Fighting Initiative (AVCFI).

Six juveniles were arrested during the operation; all on suspicion of assault. Three adults were arrested, including 19-year-old Ryan Vigil on suspicion of burglary; 18-year-old James Span on suspicion of burglary; and 34-year-old Melodie Gray for parole violation.

Those arrested Tuesday had not only filmed their crimes, but were “bold enough to then put out the videos through social media websites,” Gregg stated.

He said Palmdale detectives had been tracking the juvenile delinquents for several months.

“They have committed robberies in the local [Domenic Massari] park, burglarized cars and home, sometimes while the residents were sleeping,” Gregg stated.

He said local businesses were also targeted through “flocking” – multiple people descending on a location to create a distraction, as others steal items.

“There were multiple victims on different dates, at different times,” Kennedy said. “Basically, anybody was susceptible to their behavior… they were acting like a pack of thugs.”

Numerous pieces of suspected stolen property were also recovered Tuesday, including a gun from one of the warrant locations. One suspect sought during the operation is still outstanding and is being pursued by detectives from the Palmdale Sheriff’s Station.

Tuesday’s search warrant operation is “only the beginning,” according to Gregg, who said “future operations are being planned.”

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Filed Under: Crime/ Safety

31 comments for "Local gang operation nets 9 arrests"

  1. All fkn lies, thts why they all are out, cant touch a child of God, trust and believe tht…

    • That’s a sad statement.
      Children of God don’t video tape themselves and post on FB and internet committing crimes, and then deny it. These kids have been described as vicious thugs. Are you really defending their actions or just putting it out to the universe that the law, “can’t touch this. na na na na, can’t touch this”?
      I wonder if this was the same group of kids that “flocked” the Walmart on Valley Central last summer. They rode their bikes around in the store, knocking things over and yelling back and forth to each other. A few of the “Walmart shoppers” and employees thought it was funny. Mostly people who looked like they might be related to the kids.

  2. Living in a small town in Ohio, I am truly sorry for all the residents who are afraid to walk the streets of their community and enjoy such parks that are now full of gangs and thugs. I agree!! Where are their parents at?? My only child just left for college and even at the adult age of 18, I always knew where she was at and with whom she became friendly with. My husband and I relocated 23 years ago from the Antelope
    Valley to Ohio for the sole purpose of raising our future children in a safer environment. There is no such thing as a perfect parent. However, with that being said, focus needs to be put on educating young mothers how to raise productive, honest adults who are not afraid to work hard.

  3. Great job LASD! Get these idiots off the street!! Dominic massari park is getting so bad, I don’t even like my kids going there anymore. My sons backpack was stolen in January this year from the basketball court with his valuables (iPod, beats ear phones, his friends iPhone, and more). These little hoodlums need to stay off the street and were are their parents????!!!! It’s easy to be a bad parent and let your child do whatever they want excluding running the streets, why don’t you try to put in work and be a good parent and watch over your children… Maybe teach them some morals and respect!!!! Teach them that you have to WORK hard to get what you want in the world. We work hard everyday for out children to have things and just like that some little ratchet little kids comes and takes it!!!! Ugh keep it coming LASD!!! There are plenty more out here that need to be shaken up and arrested!!!

  4. when thieves get caught, put a dollar amount on all they stole, plus add for pain and suffering for the victims; then put them to work on the chain gang, for a certain dollar amount daily to pay back what they owe to the hard working people they stole from. these thieves shouldn’t be allowed to just sit in a cell waiting to get out, and steal again. Work them hard so they know what it feels like, not to get anything out of it because someone else takes what you worked for.

  5. Good job LASD- I think if these punks are so
    big and bad they should give them a gun and send
    Them to Iraq.

  8. Palmdale, come back to me.
    I need you and I love you, baby.
    Palmdale, come back to me.
    Cause that’s where my heartache began, heartache began…

  9. my brothers car was stolen but recovered last week and (what we had assumed were crackheads) only took his 1 month old babies stroller and a couple tools. hope it was them.

  10. GREAT JOB DEPUTIES….. My “DISTINGUISHED” neighbor was picked up Yesterday during this operation. Feeling Good Now that I know what type of person this idiot was.. I can’t be more proud of the LASD now that this TRASH has been removed from our Neighborhood. One of these idiots stole my nephew’s Iphone last year at Dominic Park while he was skating at the park. I saw the Deputies taking a lot of electronics items away from his house during the raid. I saw the Deputies taking him away while I was leaving to work Yesterday.
    This confirms the reason why he can afford to drive the niece BMW745, and the late model Suburban.
    Really Piece of trash…What about his Family? I hope they don’t come with the stupid excuse that they didn’t know he was committing these crimes? Yeah, right…..

    Thumbs UP LASD!!!

    • @Booty…. Your comments sound like you belong to this Group of IDIOTS….
      I hope you get caught soon too…. You’ll be close to them at least….LOL!!!

  14. Maybe there’s the possibility that some of this thugs can be spelled from the valley we should all get together and request for a hearing or something similar to try and clear our hometown I mean when is enough ENOUGH! !!!!!!

    • I totally agree this isn’t the antelope valley I moved to 20 yrs ago! I wish that they can band any criminals from moving up here! After all this was supposed to be a place for people to buy there homes & race there family away from crime. Know antelope valley has nothing but crime happening all over the place!!

    • I wish they can just stop all these idiot people from moving up here this is a retirement place for homeowners people that want to buy homes & race there family away from crime! I hope they will continue with the law of not bulking any more apartments in the antelope valley!

  18. As had tons of packages that were stolen last week by domenic marasri park from my car with TONs of Ribbon!! I wonder if they are responsible for that!! Hoping to recover the list packages of my customers! If anyone knows anything about it please email me at enchantedsweet_dreamshop@yahoo.com

    Thx

  19. Wow! What a bunch if Cowards these little punks. Shame on the “parents” to.

  20. Its too bad that most are juveniles. That just means they will attend Gladiator Academy, (Juvenile Camp) and return with bigger and more violent intentions. It’s a shame California is so weak with the justice system. Stand By!!!

    • Hey……just relax. The streets are a bit more safer for now. Don’t be such a downer

  23. Way to go..Thank you for making the city safer for the families that live here in the antelope valley.