61 Held on Alleged Probation Violations

Authorities arrested 61 convicted felons for alleged probation violations and seized an array of weapons and drugs during a three-day sweep through the Antelope Valley that ended Wednesday.

A joint effort of the Los Angeles County Probation Department and the Sheriff’s Department, the operation turned up eight guns, two pounds of marijuana, and small amounts of cocaine and methamphetamines, said John Tuchek, a probation supervisor.

At one of the 175 homes they searched, authorities found an explosive device and called in the bomb squad to defuse it, Tuchek said. Authorities said the Palmdale residence turned out to be a meth lab. At another location, also in Palmdale, officials found about $100,000 in cash, suspected to be the result of a money-laundering operation.

The action, which did not require search warrants, marked the first time that the agencies targeted the Antelope Valley for a probation sweep. The Probation Department has directed similar sweeps in Gardena, Hawthorne and Whittier, officials said.

“This is the largest operation we’ve ever conducted,” Tuchek said. “I thought it was very successful. We made it clear to the probationers that they need to comply with the terms of their probation, and those that weren’t are going to jail.”