The Kern County Sheriff's Office teamed up with several law enforcement organizations last month to start a problem-oriented policing project to address vagrancy-related crimes in the Kern Valley area.
The project started in October to reduce the crimes related to vagrancy such as illegal dumping and scavenging, public intoxication, loitering at businesses to solicit for money and alcohol, trespassing and drug-related offenses.
In just 30 days, 76 arrests were made regarding these vagrancy crimes or crimes committed by vagrants.
A breakdown of the project's results:
- Two people arrested for entering a residence after it had been red tagged by the county
- Five people arrested for public intoxication
- 15 people arrested for trespassing
- 10 people arrested for illegal dumping, scavenging
- 24 people arrested for other misdemeanor violations committed by vagrants
- Five people arrested for various felony violations committed by vagrants
Officials said special attention was paid to vagrancy issues at local businesses, private properties with illegal camps, and county parks.
KSCO worked with the United States Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Kern County Parks Department, Kern County Code Compliance, and the California Highway Patrol during the project.
Authorities said while the project is complete, they will continue their efforts, noting that these types of investigations both lower crime rates and calls for service in the Kern Valley area.
