Scores of O.C. teens picked up in 'scared straight' curfew sweep

Sixty-seven underage Orange County teens were rounded up in a massive countywide curfew sweep late Thursday in an effort by dozens of law enforcement agencies to scare the after-hours wanderers straight.

The teens, who ranged in age from 13 to 17, were taken to one of three headquarters, put on jail buses to await their parents' arrival and then shown photos of young men who’d been killed in after-curfew incidents.

The sweep was meant to prevent youngsters from being victims of or participants in gang crimes, according to the Orange County district attorney’s office.

Curfews in Orange County begin at 10 p.m. or 11 p.m., depending on the city, and last until 5 a.m. Minors are banned from going out in public during these hours unless they’re with a parent or guardian or qualify for an exemption.

Among the offenders late Thursday were college-bound students, reputed gang members, a 13-year-old on probation for kidnapping and more than one drunken teen.

Late in the night, the minors and their parents met with representatives of the district attorney’s office and the probation department to discuss the possible consequences of being out past curfew.

One by one, they were asked to look at large poster boards filled with photos of corpses and asked whether this was how they wanted to end up.

“It’s a very good thing if we get kids when they’re young and we get them off the street,” Dist. Atty. Tony Rackauckas told officers before the sweep. “Clearly they’re not doing anything good if they’re out there after 10 o’clock.”

About 300 officers participated in the sweep.

-- Paloma Esquivel

Comments

[TheBigPicture]

They should be charging parents baby sitting fees...

[KK]

Good work but I am sure their parents are in denial and knew what their kids are doing. Some parents are probably gangsters themselves. Some may be genuinely good but I doubt it.

[Ryan D]

Can we charge this operation back to the parents?

[anonymous]

Good Job Orange County!! I wish that Los Angeles County would do the same...
Too many kids are out late, when I was a kid (a million years ago...) my Mom would tell me that there was nothing but trouble in the street after midnight, and she was right. The problem is that sometimes you don't realize it until trouble has found you...

[Not to be parent]

Take away thier cell phones for a month, hits the parents in the pocketbook and punishes the teen.

[MG]

They should charge them baby sitting fees. Also, fees for graffiti,vandalism, theft (inluding beer runs), burglary, and most of all being a clueless, selfish parent that probably shouldn't of had offspring in the 1st place. parents, don't add another mouth to feed and use up natural resources if you plan not give a crap about your litter.

[susansocal]

Good news to hear that they are trying to reach teenagers before it's too late. The OC is no stranger to teenagers misbehaving! They are spoiled brats driving nice cars but with no parent supervision they think they can and do raunchy and destructive things to the community! We have been shocked at how many teens are out and acting like vadals in the Ladera Ranch parking lot at Kohls and McDonald's after 9pm. We contacted the Sheriff to patrol because they were running stop signs and acting like hoodlums but they never arrived well after an hour of our calling it on the Sheriff non-emergency numbers.

[A. Wezeman]

I hope that the parents got the same treatment, and some motivation to PARENT (the verb).

[Michael]

A 13-year-old on probation for kidnapping? I hope that he was sent back to the hoosegow.

[Archie1954]

Don't you think it should be the parents who enforce the curfew? Using the police for everything from schoolyard bullying to getting kids of the streets at night is really pushing the fascist envelope I believe.

[Matthew Bright]

It is beyond my comprehension why the police department in Orange Country would subject young people out after 10:00 PM to blanket arrests and detention. And one officer's stated belief "that any kid out after ten is up to no good," is nonsense. It's simply a continuation of anti young people laws that were put in place when I was growing up back in the 60's, like the ordnance that stated that anyone under 18 years old was barred by law from dancing in public, which covered not only clubs, but concerts too.

These are obnoxious laws that are blatantly unconstitutional. If my kids were picked up in a sweep like that, I would be furious.

[terminationshok]

@Matthew Bright
I completely agree with you and I would love to see these ordinances challenged by the higher courts. Under what authority can they arrest all people of a certain age for being in public at night?

[kika]

There is many dangerous places in oc, i would not be furious if my child was detained, I would be grateful!! I dont let my teens wonder the streets late at night on supervised, but if they were to sneak out i wouldnt be happier they were picked up by the police. thank you "Scared straight" program for keeping our children safe.

[Julian B Duron]

Raising children today takes responsibility by both parents. No child should out on the streets after 10:00 pm no matter what. Idle hands devils workshop. It was rough raising three children to be adults in today’s society. I made no apologies for actually being married in parent teacher conferences but sometimes I was the one out of place in these meetings.
A South Gate High School Principle (1992) once told a meeting of parents that I upset by saying: I see a lot of grand-parents here and single moms. Where are the fathers? Fathers should put down their cervezas lot enough to take an interest in their child.
The Principle stated this, to upset parents that heard this fact and were upset.
This is Mr. Duron, he has two children in this High School and they have more to fear from him than any gang on campus.
Good for Orange County Law Enforcement! This should serve as a wake up for all the negligent parents that want others to raise their children. Like all the gangbangers recruiting for new members.

[Denise]

...righhttt. I'm absolutely certain that any kid out on the street after 10 pm is up to no good, especially in Orange County. And of course, it should be the CHILDREN punished...not those who are actually committing the acts that put our kids in said danger.

[bob]

Why is there a curfew?
If they want to stay out let them stay out.
They wont get shot if they are not affiliated with gangs or causing trouble.
If they think they are tough and stay out past ten, who can stop them? Let them learn theyre lesson.