LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Sheriff Alex Villanueva Tuesday said a weekend raid of "a massive underground party" at a vacant Palmdale residence -- despite health restrictions against large gatherings and a statewide curfew in place due to the coronavirus pandemic -- led to 158 arrests and the rescue of a 17- year-old victim of human trafficking.
The Saturday night party in the 6300 block of West Avenue M-8 was allegedly organized by a teen promoter who was one of the people arrested when sheriff's deputies descended on the event, Villanueva said.
"Parties like these often involve drugs, prostitution, underage drinking and violence," Villanueva said at a news conference Tuesday morning outside the Hall of Justice, where he announced the 158 arrests as well as the rescue of the human trafficking victim and the recovery of six firearms from the location.
"We were able to rescue a girl who was present and categorized as a commercially sexually exploited child," Villanueva said.
Involved in the law enforcement operation were personnel from the sheriff's Palmdale Station, the Human Trafficking Task Force, Operation Safe Streets Bureau, Aero Bureau, three mobile field forces and Los Angeles County Fire Department paramedics.
According to Fox11, which had been tracking the 17-year-old promoter's alleged activities and was on scene when the raid occurred, 116 adults were cited and released for various misdemeanor offenses, while seven people were booked into jail. Another 35 juveniles were also cited and released. The arrests included three adults and two juveniles booked on suspicion of burglary, while one juvenile was arrested on a gun charge, the station reported.
When stricter health orders were announced last week, including plans for the state's regional stay-at-home order that took effect late Sunday night, Villanueva said his department would continue to rely on the public's adherence to restrictions.
"Since March, we have continued to focus on education and voluntary compliance regarding health orders," he wrote on Twitter. "Moving forward, we will additionally be conducting targeted enforcement of super-spreader events."
The Palmdale party was considered just such an event, Villanueva said at the news conference.
"As you can see, this was a flagrant violation of the governor's health order," Villanueva said. "But also please understand, even without the health order, these actions were criminal in nature."
Villanueva said COVID-19 protocols were maintained by the law enforcement personnel, including providing those who were detained with protective masks.
Sheriff's Capt. Ron Shaffer said the homeowner did not give permission for the residence to be used for such a gathering.
"They were looking to rent it to a family," Shaffer said.
According to Fox11, the residence used for the party was up for rent, but the party organizers were allegedly in the home illegally.
Los Angeles County and state health restrictions in place due to the coronavirus ban gatherings with people from different households. State health orders that were in place on Saturday also included an overnight curfew, barring people from gathering with others between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.