Tuesday’s raid on a Canyon Country home by heavily armed members of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Special Enforcement Bureau culminated in the arrest of a man and a woman suspected of child cruelty due to the “deplorable” living conditions inside the home, according to sheriff’s officials.
On Tuesday morning, detectives with the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station COBRA team — with the help of SEB deputies and county Animal Care and Control officers, as well as the Department of Child and Family Services — executed a search warrant at a home on River Circle.
They seized firearms, drugs and three pitbulls, deputies said.
Rachel Michelle Manes, 34, was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of cruelty to a child likely to produce great bodily injury or death.
Robert Wayne Allen, 30, was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of the same charges.
“Suspect Rachel Manes was taken into custody Tuesday and the other suspect — her boyfriend, Robert Allen — was not there at the time,” said Shirley Miller, spokeswoman for the SCV Sheriff’s Station. “COBRA detectives continued to look for the suspect and were able to locate him yesterday and bring him into custody.”
Detectives reportedly received information that the couple were in possession of illegal firearms, which led to the search warrant.
Detectives found several firearms at the residence including three assault rifles, a 30-30 rifle, a shotgun, two handguns and ammunition, Miller said. They also seized a quantity of methamphetamine.
“Conditions were reported to be deplorable inside the residence, including debris, animal feces throughout the home and a filthy condition,” Miller said.
Three pitbulls and a bearded dragon were turned over to animal care and control officers.
Social workers with the DCFS were contacted as there were three children found in the home, ages 10-14.
“The firearms were not secured and in an accessible area to the children,” Miller said.
Suspect Rachel Manes is a convicted felon. Suspect Robert Allen was also wanted on weapon charges and child endangerment charges, and two outstanding warrants.
Bail for Manes and Allen was set at $100,000 and $235,000, respectively.
661-287-5527
On Twitter @jamesarthurholt
