The Saturday night party in the 6300 block of West Avenue M-8 was allegedly organized by a teen promoter who was one of the people arrested when sheriff’s deputies descended on the event, Villanueva said.
“Parties like these often involve drugs, prostitution, underage drinking and violence,” Villanueva said. “We were able to rescue a girl who was present and categorized as a commercially sexually exploited child.”
Involved in the law enforcement operation were personnel from the sheriff’s Palmdale Station, the Human Trafficking Task Force, Operation Safe Streets Bureau, Aero Bureau, three mobile field forces and Los Angeles County Fire Department paramedics.
According to Fox11, which had been tracking the 17-year-old promoter’s alleged activities and was on scene when the raid occurred, 116 adults were cited and released for various misdemeanor offenses, while seven people were booked into jail. Another 35 juveniles were also cited and released. The arrests included three adults and two juveniles booked on suspicion of burglary, while one juvenile was arrested on a gun charge, the station reported.
When stricter health orders were announced last week, including plans for the state’s regional stay-at-home order that took effect late Sunday night, Villanueva said his department would continue to rely on the public’s adherence to restrictions.
“Since March, we have continued to focus on education and voluntary compliance regarding health orders,” he wrote on Twitter. “Moving forward, we will additionally be conducting targeted enforcement of super-spreader events.”
The Palmdale party was considered just such an event, Villanueva said at the news conference.
“As you can see, this was a flagrant violation of the governor’s health order,” Villanueva said. “But also please understand, even without the health order, these actions were criminal in nature.”
Villanueva said COVID-19 protocols were maintained by the law enforcement personnel, including providing those who were detained with protective masks. Sheriff’s Capt. Ron Shaffer said the homeowner did not give permission for the residence to be used for such a gathering.
“They were looking to rent it to a family,” Shaffer said.
According to Fox11, the residence used for the party was up for rent, but the party organizers were allegedly in the home illegally.
Los Angeles County and state health restrictions in place due to the coronavirus ban gatherings with people from different households. State health orders that were in place on Saturday also included an overnight curfew, barring people from gathering with others between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.
During the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday, Supervisor Kathryn Barger presented a motion asking the county’s chief executive officer to find funding to help the sheriff crack down on “underground” super-spreader events.
Barger said the sheriff’s department is monitoring social media to identify party locations and set up surveillance. She said 500 to 1,000 people were expected at the party and that the organizers broke into the vacant property where it was held.
The same 17-year-old organizer hosted another big party in Pomona, according to Barger.
“We know that these large parties that are taking place are problematic. Many of the people that come there are not practicing social distancing, are not wearing masks, and in fact are putting the community in jeopardy,” Barger said. “When they leave, they could give (the coronavirus) to their loved ones, they could give it to their grandparents.”
Supervisor Holly Mitchell offered an amendment, her first on the board, asking that super-spreader events be specifically defined to avoid any confusion with lawful gatherings like protests. Mitchell also asked that enforcement funding be provided to both the public health and sheriff’s departments.
“It’s important to issue tailored and appropriate responses to the health order violations aimed at achieving our underlying objective, but not criminalization,” Mitchell said. “It’s really important that … policy, public safety and health really walk a fine line, but walk together, protecting public health without unfairly prosecuting lawful conduct.”
The board’s vote on the motion and amendment was unanimous.
shala says
Stop blaming police for not stopping the party…..They shouldn’t have been at the party period
OKFine says
Use the Al Capone strategy for punishments’. Everyone caught gets sued by the County for the cost of having LASO respond.
Everyone pays up for the fines or has their credit destroyed, their property have leans placed on it, professional licenses restricted. For those who have nothing, your parents have assets if you are living with them.
Jail may be a hard sale for Liberals here in CA, but a little fiscal justice for us tax payers would be great.
Matt says
Wow. So Republicans go from Covid is a hoax to throw everybody in jail who breaks quarantine rules. Pretty extreme bro. Sounds like u wear ur mask religiously. But sorry pal, first offense is education, 2nd is up to $500 fine. Nobody is going to jail. Again, it was all just a show for the news who was “tipped off” as to what was going on.
Mike says
Stop the bs about Liberals. I have no problem with jail if you’re guilty. Most of us don’t. Stop spreading hatred between political parties. We’re all Americans. Liberals have sacrificed their lives defending this country, unlike your draft-dodging orange king. Our enemies don’t give a damn which political party you belong to. They hate us equally. When those twin towers came down, liberals and conservatives died.
Loam says
“Stop spreading hatred between political parties… your draft-dodging orange king. ”
Ha! Typical for this era. Do what I say, not what I do.
Judy says
Ah! It’s moderate Mike, stumping for Democrat Dave, dictating to you how he thinks you ought to be living your life!
Mike says
Wow, Judy. Brilliant commentary. Your comments and insightfulness really added to the conversation. Your ability at fact-finding is uncanny. Wonderful food for thought. Keep up the good work!
Footsteps says
Great comment Mike. As a veteran that has lived a long time and experienced wars, it saddens me to see the constant feuding.
Liberal/Conservative says
OKFine: I’m a veteran and a liberal and I don’t have a problem with law breakers going to jail. I’m a tax payer, a productive member of society and this community. I have friends that are Republicans, Democrats, and everything in between. We all come from different backgrounds and have different opinions, but one thing we don’t need in this nation is the constant bickering that goes on every day, all day long. I also have conservative in me on some issues as many of us do, as well as being liberal on other issues. This tribal mentality is destroying us. You lost your credibility with me when you used the term “slut-mobile.”
Matt says
No sir. They knew about the party around 2pm. Why? Because it was the same promoter who threw parties in Pacoima, San Fernando, here, all over. They used a house they broke into illegally. Sheriffs knew this already. Could’ve block the street for only residents, or contacted the homeowner about what was going on. All I’m saying is it was just a big show for the news so cops can say see what will happen, but the safest thing to do would’ve been to never have allowed it to happen at all. If u cant see that, then ur an idiot.
Mars says
Don’t Forget They Found a 17yr old human trafficking victim..Also You know the News was Present and obviously got the scoop or..??Is this why People Are Waiting hours for Police to show up ..Or Actually Do Reports..New Tech Why Not Complete Reports On Scene Instead of waiting than leaving out information or getting information wrong..Either Way The Owner will be stuck with a cleaning/ fixing Bill
Samster says
… police tradition here in America, raiding kegger parties. Moment police find out about a kegger party? They go berserk!
Don't agree says
Breaking into someone’s house while carrying guns is a home invasion – not a “kegger”. Personally, I’m glad they got them off the streets. Yeah – just let them party. What could go wrong?
PK says
A simple solution to stop these events: read ’em the Riot Act, then gas ’em.
MR says
Good job, sheriff’s dept. God put you all there for a reason. And people want to defund law enforcement, good luck.
Matt says
A good job would have been to prevent the party from happening at all. Since they knew about it hours before it started. But they had to have a TV moment and line the streets with those people in cuffs. They let all of those people party in a packed house potentially spreading the virus to everybody. Never should have happened.
Lol says
Oh gawd Matt…..
AV Illegal says
Kind of like the old movie Minority Report where they arrest people for thinking about a crime. Get real Matt. I guess they could just sit and wait in the area they think a party is going to happen. When it doesn’t materialize, you would complain about them wasting your tax dollars.
SyndneeDad says
Geesh. Look up “defunding”. It actually takes unnecessary work off the deputies’ plate.