South Bay : JAILHOUSE PRIZE

Sheriff’s officials are considering duplicating a crafty sting operation in the wake of a successful ruse in Carson recently in which deputies posed as contest officials to find and arrest individuals with outstanding warrants. Authorities arrested 167 people last weekend after luring them to a phony store on Wilmington Avenue with the promise of winning prizes including a home stereo, a television and a chance to win a sports car. Sheriff’s deputies and Torrance police targeted 5,000 people wanted on arrest warrants by posing as officials with the Superior Technology and Research Co. and sending out letters with greetings of “Dear Winner.”

Sheriff’s deputies said those who showed up at the fictitious store during the three-day sting operation were met by deputies who posed as employees and escorted the scofflaws into a private prize room where they were arrested.

Those targeted in the operation were individuals with misdemeanor and felony warrants that ranged from traffic violations to narcotics offenses. Sheriff’s Deputy Matthew Rodriguez said all those targeted had skipped scheduled court appearances.

“These people were basically tricked into going to jail,” Rodriguez said.