Deputies with the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station engaged in an armed containment on the 19200 block of Drycliff Street, ultimately taking two into custody, a man and a male juvenile who was in possession of a loaded gun, according to station spokeswoman Natalie Arriaga.
The standoff began at approximately 4 p.m. Thursday while deputies were conducting a crime-suppression operation near a “known gang house,” and spotted a boy who was a suspected gang member approaching a car with a man inside.
Deputies then set up a containment of the area, which was conducted by the station’s COBRA team, Arriaga said, to determine whether anyone in the house was affiliated with the activity under investigation. COBRA stands for Career Offenders, Burglary, Robbery, Arson, and the unit usually investigates gang-related crimes.
Deputies detained the two and both appeared to be taken from the scene by deputies — the boy was found to be in possession of a firearm, Arriaga said.
A woman who was in the house at the end of the standoff eventually came out, was questioned by deputies, and then released. The operation concluded around 5:30 p.m.
Residents gathered outside to watch the police operation, although several declined to comment on what they’d seen.
“It’s scary — make Santa Clarita safe again,” said Jessica, a 30-year resident of the neighborhood who asked that her last name not be published.
“It’s all the time, but that’s the first time it’s been that bad,” said Bryanna Morales.
Jonathan Morales, an 11-year-old boy from the neighborhood, said that his block was a nice one, but called the scene “kinda scary.”
“I just want to know what happened,” he said, adding he didn’t understand why so many “cops” were around, “since it’s also like a really nice neighborhood.”
This is a breaking news story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
