PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release
- TWO-DAY PROBATION / PAROLE SWEEPS NET 23 ARRESTS
March 26, 2008
Waterford, CA- Officers from six county agencies and State Parole
conducted a two-day probation/parole sweep operation in Northeast
Stanislaus County that resulted in 23 arrests. During the operation,
officers from Waterford, Oakdale, Riverbank, Modesto, Sheriff’s
Department, county probation, and state parole completed 92 searches and
attempted to serve 17 warrants.
The large-scale operation was made possible by several agencies pooling together their resources. These types of proactive, multi-agency operations can have a direct impact on crime in the community. “We have found that a small percentage of the population commit a large percentage of the crime in our communities,” said Oakdale Police Chief Marty West. “Just because these people are on parole or probation, does not mean that they change their ways.”
“You have to keep in mind that parole and probation is an extension of the corrections system,” said Waterford Police Chief Darin Gharat. “Violation of the terms of their parole or probation will often result in the violator being returned to custody. We have to make sure that they are not continuing to commit the crimes that got them in trouble in the first place.”
The operation consisted of six individual teams made up of a mixture of deputies, detectives, police officers, probation officers and parole agents. The teams focused on the cities of Oakdale, Riverbank, and Waterford as well as the unincorporated areas and small towns just outside the city limits.
The diversity of the teams and experience that each of the individuals bring to the table is what makes these operations so successful. “There are areas of enforcement and access that are unique to the parole and probation departments,” said Riverbank Police Chief Tim Beck. “There are also areas of enforcement that are unique to deputies and police officers. By combining the teams, we get the best of both worlds.”
“The winners in all of this is the general public and law abiding citizens in our county,” said Chief Probation Officer Jerry Powers. “Each of our individual agencies don’t have the manpower to complete an operation of this size and make as many contacts as were made in the past two-days.”
There are approximately 6800 adults and 900 juveniles on formal probation in Stanislaus County. Many of them are compliant with the terms of their probation, but some are not. “These are the ones that we want to find,” said Powers. “If they continue steal, use drugs, or victimize innocent people, then they need to be in custody where they can’t continue their criminal ways.”
During one search in Waterford, 37-year-old Leonor Sandoval was arrested for possessing counterfeited DVD’s and CD’s for sale. She was also charged with violation of Trademark laws and violation of the terms of her probation. “One of the stipulations of her probation was that she was not to possess any counterfeited audio or visual media,” said Deputy Tom Letras. “Not only did she get charged with violating her probation, but she now has a new case with two new charges.”
During another search in Waterford, one of the search teams solved a residential burglary that had occurred the night before. They found evidence at the probationer’s home that linked him to the burglary. He was booked on a new burglary charge and will likely face probation violations as well. A second man has been identified in this case and the investigation is ongoing.
During the two-day operation, officers were able to identify nearly 20 active criminal street gang members. There were also several people booked for violation of parole. Out of the 17 warrants that officers attempted to serve, 8 people were arrested and booked into jail.
According to all of the agencies involved, the operation was a huge success and there are already plans for more of these types of multi-agency collaborations in the future. “Due to staffing issues, our agencies often have to take a reactive approach to law enforcement,” said Gharat. “When we can work together and be pro-active, we can stop a lot of crime before it happens by keeping the habitual offenders off the street.”
“There are still a lot of probationers out there that we didn’t get to during this operation,” said Sheriff Adam Christianson. “I hope this serves as a warning to them to make sure that they are in compliance and not continuing to commit crimes. We plan to continue working together and putting together more operations just like this one.”
For questions regarding this press release, contact Deputy Tom Letras at (209) 652-0134.
The large-scale operation was made possible by several agencies pooling together their resources. These types of proactive, multi-agency operations can have a direct impact on crime in the community. “We have found that a small percentage of the population commit a large percentage of the crime in our communities,” said Oakdale Police Chief Marty West. “Just because these people are on parole or probation, does not mean that they change their ways.”
“You have to keep in mind that parole and probation is an extension of the corrections system,” said Waterford Police Chief Darin Gharat. “Violation of the terms of their parole or probation will often result in the violator being returned to custody. We have to make sure that they are not continuing to commit the crimes that got them in trouble in the first place.”
The operation consisted of six individual teams made up of a mixture of deputies, detectives, police officers, probation officers and parole agents. The teams focused on the cities of Oakdale, Riverbank, and Waterford as well as the unincorporated areas and small towns just outside the city limits.
The diversity of the teams and experience that each of the individuals bring to the table is what makes these operations so successful. “There are areas of enforcement and access that are unique to the parole and probation departments,” said Riverbank Police Chief Tim Beck. “There are also areas of enforcement that are unique to deputies and police officers. By combining the teams, we get the best of both worlds.”
“The winners in all of this is the general public and law abiding citizens in our county,” said Chief Probation Officer Jerry Powers. “Each of our individual agencies don’t have the manpower to complete an operation of this size and make as many contacts as were made in the past two-days.”
There are approximately 6800 adults and 900 juveniles on formal probation in Stanislaus County. Many of them are compliant with the terms of their probation, but some are not. “These are the ones that we want to find,” said Powers. “If they continue steal, use drugs, or victimize innocent people, then they need to be in custody where they can’t continue their criminal ways.”
During one search in Waterford, 37-year-old Leonor Sandoval was arrested for possessing counterfeited DVD’s and CD’s for sale. She was also charged with violation of Trademark laws and violation of the terms of her probation. “One of the stipulations of her probation was that she was not to possess any counterfeited audio or visual media,” said Deputy Tom Letras. “Not only did she get charged with violating her probation, but she now has a new case with two new charges.”
During another search in Waterford, one of the search teams solved a residential burglary that had occurred the night before. They found evidence at the probationer’s home that linked him to the burglary. He was booked on a new burglary charge and will likely face probation violations as well. A second man has been identified in this case and the investigation is ongoing.
During the two-day operation, officers were able to identify nearly 20 active criminal street gang members. There were also several people booked for violation of parole. Out of the 17 warrants that officers attempted to serve, 8 people were arrested and booked into jail.
According to all of the agencies involved, the operation was a huge success and there are already plans for more of these types of multi-agency collaborations in the future. “Due to staffing issues, our agencies often have to take a reactive approach to law enforcement,” said Gharat. “When we can work together and be pro-active, we can stop a lot of crime before it happens by keeping the habitual offenders off the street.”
“There are still a lot of probationers out there that we didn’t get to during this operation,” said Sheriff Adam Christianson. “I hope this serves as a warning to them to make sure that they are in compliance and not continuing to commit crimes. We plan to continue working together and putting together more operations just like this one.”
For questions regarding this press release, contact Deputy Tom Letras at (209) 652-0134.
Callers can also leave an anonymous tip by
calling
Crime
Stoppers at (209) 521-4636 and may be eligible for a cash reward.