6 Arrested in Sweep Near School

The Los Angeles city attorney’s office led a sweep this week that resulted in the arrests of six people, including a sex offender on probation, who lived near Crenshaw High School, city and school officials said Friday.

The 5 a.m. sweep Thursday was part of an initiative started in 2005 to remove alleged criminals from areas near schools, Los Angeles City Atty. Rocky Delgadillo said at a news conference Friday. The action involved his office, the Los Angeles Police Department and county Probation Department, among other agencies.

Jonathan Rizo, 25, on probation for a 2003 conviction for unlawful sex with a minor, was arrested Thursday after police allegedly found a computer in his home, and evidence that he had been chatting with a 15-year-old girl on a popular teen website -- both violations of his probation.

Rizo lived a few blocks from the high school, preschools and a private elementary school, Delgadillo said.

Denise Elliott, 40; LaCount Scott, 30; and George Whitehead, 42, were arrested on outstanding misdemeanor warrants.

Two children living with the three adults were taken into protective custody, said Tracy Webb, special assistant to the city attorney.

Police also arrested two minors who authorities said were members of the Rolling 40s Crips gang.

“We want our kids to focus on their education -- on their next history test, on their next math test,” Delgadillo said, not on whether they will make it to school each day. “So much more remains to be done to make our schools and our neighborhoods safe.”