Santa Clarita / Antelope Valley : Construction Workers Go on ‘Destructive Rampage’

A group of non-union construction workers demonstrating for higher wages went on a “destructive rampage” Friday morning, injuring several workers and tearing down two homes under construction, a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy said.

About 150 framers took three chartered buses to a housing tract under construction at 9:45 a.m. and left “little more behind than firewood,” said Deputy Diane Hecht.

The damage was estimated at $6,000.

The violence occurred at the Goldenview housing development near Hillcrest Parkway and Polson Street, Hecht said. The picketers pelted workers from Hanes & Associates of Lancaster with rocks, injuring several, vandalized numerous vehicles belonging to Hanes employees and then quickly left on the buses, Hecht said.

The buses were pulled over a short time later by deputies called to the scene.

Only one man, Gerardo Guijarro, 35, was arrested, for allegedly stealing a chain saw.

“There were no other arrests made because none of the victims could positively identify who caused what damage or injuries,” Hecht said in a statement.

The incident was videotaped, but when the alleged rioters spotted the cameraman, they stole his video camera, Hecht said.

The Sheriff’s Department was unable to explain why the demonstrators chose the Hanes site to picket, or whether they had ever worked for the company.