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By Perry Smith Signal Senior Staff Writer
Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station officials released response times showing deputies reported a 10% improvement in their response time to emergency calls and a 21% increase in the time taken for nonroutine calls in a year-over-year comparison.
In March 2025, the average response time for an emergency incident within Santa Clarita city limits was 5.4 minutes, which was an improvement by 0.6 minutes on the 6 minutes flat reported the previous March, according to SCV Sheriff’s Station data.
“Our response times are on par with last year and we look forward to providing the tradition of service that we continue to do,” said Lt. Brandon Barclay, acting captain for the SCV Sheriff’s Station. He declined to discuss specifics regarding any changes in the numbers in a phone interview last week.
The SCV Sheriff’s Station responds to an average of more than 250 calls each day and approximately 93,000 each year, while the department works to address its staffing level of deputies. At Wednesday’s State of the County luncheon at the Hyatt Regency Valencia, Sheriff Robert Luna said his staffing for sworn deputies is about 70% of the traditional number.
Former Sheriff’s Station Capt. Justin Diez said in a 2024 interview regarding station response times that the department’s standard is based on a 10-20-60 model, which represents 10 minutes for emergency calls, 20 minutes for priority calls and 60 minutes for routine, nonemergent calls.
For the unincorporated areas, which stretch from the Newhall Pass in the south to Gorman in the north and the Acton area in the east, the emergency call time passed the 10-minute mark, hitting 11.8 minutes.
However, at the same time, the response time to priority calls improved both in the city of Santa Clarita and the county in unincorporated areas, both shaving a little bit of time off each response. Priority calls are described as having urgency, but nonemergent, according to past accounts from station officials, such as the search for a felony suspect
who might have been spotted in an area.
The time for routine calls ticked up in both the city and the unincorporated areas, based on a yearover-year comparison — an increase of 17 minutes was seen for nonemergent calls in the city and 10.7 minutes in the unincorporated areas.
The Santa Clarita City Council approved the sending of a letter in April to the L.A. County Board of Supervisors “encouraging them to make investments in enhancing retention and strengthening recruitment efforts” for the Sheriff’s Department.
In terms of more deputies, the L.A. County Board of Supervisors’ 2025-26 budget for the LASD allocates $2 million in one-time funding for four additional academy classes, as well as recruitment efforts. Luna has requested more than 200 sworn-officer positions for 2025-26.
There were also several positions added in the
county’s budget, according to a May report from the Sheriff’s Department’s Civilian Oversight Committee addressing concerns about employee wellness. A report from the previous year’s budget stated the department had 79 positions of need that were unmet in that year’s budget.
LASD officials did not respond to a question on whether the additions would impact the number of deputies at the SCV station or how many new deputies have been added as the result of its recruitment efforts.
Additionally, very similar to the past several years, 244 of the budgeted positions being requested are deputy sheriff trainee positions that represent the proposed continuation of four additional academy classes in FY 2025-26, according to the county’s budget.
By Kamryn Martell Signal Staff Writer
He would have been accepting his high school diploma from Harvard-Westlake School this month.
But now, almost two years after 16-year-old Trey Brown decided to take his own life, his parents, Christine and Donald Brown along with Trey’s siblings — Ruby, Shiloh and Madison — have started their own organization, “Trey Loves You,” to support mental health awareness and the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
As they started “Trey Loves You,” Donald and Christine decided to host the inaugural 988 Invitational with volleyball teams from all over the Santa Clarita Valley at Golden Valley High School on a recent Sunday.
“When he passed away, we were in a state where we were grieving so hard that we couldn’t really think of what we wanted to do to honor him ... we came across this kind of like epiphany about having a foundation where we originally were thinking, and it’s something that my son, Trey, we had spoken about,” Donald said.
Growing up in Stevenson Ranch, Trey went to West Ranch High School and played all kinds of sports like basketball and volleyball.
After his ninth grade year, he got the opportunity to go to Harvard-Westlake and enjoyed his time there.
“We decided that we wanted to … we wanted to do something to honor Trey, but we didn’t want to focus on how he died. Originally, we were like, ‘We want to do something to stop suicide,’ to bring awareness to it, at least. And then, I told my wife (Christine) that, that’s emotionally, this is too much for me,” Donald said.
Donald continued listing Trey’s attributes, saying he was unique, kind
and loving.
Donald said the year he and his family planned the event felt special since Trey loved playing volleyball.
“Most of the kids in the valleys are (a) close-knit group and all the guys came up together playing different sports. So, this was special, and we wanted to do the tournament, and, you know, it’s the first endeavor, so we said, ‘We’ll try it,’” Donald said.
When asked what Donald has learned about himself through this process of grief, he took a moment to compose an answer.
“I think I’ve learned that there’s a lot that I still have to learn about being a good parent,” Donald said.
Donald told a story about him and his wife, Christine, and how they were in a place where they felt like everything was falling into place.
“I kind of felt like we, my wife and I, ‘We got this. We have it. We have it under control, and we’re juggling schedules, and the kids are doing good, socially, academically and all that good kind of stuff.’ And then losing Trey was just kind of like, ‘Wow,’” Donald said.
When asked if Donald had any advice for families going through the same thing, he paused and then said, “give each other (parents and children) grace.”
“I think a lot of grace will go a long way. So, parents particularly, it’s hard for us to do this, but especially as they’re … the dawn of becoming adults. And we’re still holding on as those parents,” Donald said. “That, we have to release them and let them be able to go out and make some mistakes and allow them to do that. And I think that’s one of the things that can stand in the way of a child communicating with you, is if they’re afraid that you’re just going to take over.”
To support Trey Loves You, visit TreyLovesYou.org.
Trey Brown (right) took his life at age 16 nearly two years ago, leading to his parents Christine (center left) and Donald (center right) to found the “Trey Loves You” organization to raise mental health awareness. Photo courtesy of Christine Brown
“Serving
By Kelly Ingram (Nishimoto) Signal Staff Writer
Canyon Country resident and 2025 Canyon High School graduate Luis Edward Olascoaga, who goes by the stage name Lil Lu, is setting his sights on a music career with the release of his new single, “What It Do.”
signing autographs for fans at
Lincoln High School in
Heights, recently signed a deal with independent label company Lobel Music Group and plans to release a new single later in June. Top: Lil Lu signs autographs and poses with fans at Paramount High School for the Power 106 FM and 93.5 KDAY Celebrity Basketball Game. PHOTOS COURTESY OF LIL LU
Born in Encino and raised in Sylmar before moving to Canyon Country in 2014, the 18-year-old artist has been performing since childhood. At age 7, he opened for Bone Thugs-n-Harmony at Club Nokia in Los Angeles following his first live performance at a local lowrider show.
“Being able to show others my music when I was that young felt amazing,” Lil Lu said.
He credits his early start in music to his father and uncle, who supported his first attempts at performing. That early exposure led to consistent work in music and performances at community events, including recent celebrity high school basketball games hosted by Power 106 and 93.5 KDAY.
Lil Lu describes his newest single, “What It Do,” as having a summer vibe and a mellow tone. He describes the song as driven by its sound and mood. The track was co-produced with the rapper Mann, and has been promoted through his YouTube channel.
Earlier this year, Lil Lu signed a deal with the
independent label Lobel Music Group, a move he described as the next step in his development as an artist.
“Signing to LMG was really cool. It’s something I had to take advantage of with my music career,” he said.
In 2023, he performed at Good Karma Fest, in Santa Clarita, where he was introduced by Grammy and Academy Award-winning artist DJ Paul of Three 6 Mafia.
With the support of the Santa Clarita Valley’s tight-knit creative community, the artist says staying local has helped him grow into his sound.
Looking ahead, Lil Lu said he plans to undergo a stage name change, release a new single this month and complete work on an album that has been in development for the past two years.
His music can be found on streaming platforms and he is active on social media at @lilluofficial.
By Perry Smith Signal Senior Staff Writer
The Department of Justice announced a guilty plea from a former FBI official from Canyon Country, who acknowledged benefiting from hundreds of thousands of dollars in illegal bids, according to a news release.
The Santa Clarita Valley resident is accused of using his position to steer at least $350,000 in contracts to companies controlled by his sister, without previously acknowledging the conflict of interest, according to a DOJ news release.
Jeffrey Spencer, 51, previously the lead electronics technician for the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, and his sister, a 43-year-old Temecula resident, entered into the agreements for a single felony count the same day the indictment was announced.
The offense carries a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison, according to the DOJ statement.
Spencer and Christy Evereklian are expected to enter their guilty pleas in the coming weeks in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles.
For about five years starting in 2015, Spencer and Evereklian “conspired to defraud the United States by impeding the solicitation of competitive bids for electronic equipment by deceitful and dishonest means,” according to the release.
Spencer, a procurement official, solicited bids for electronic equipment, and worked with Evereklian “to submit purportedly independent and competitive bids from Evereklian’s several companies for FBI contracts,” according to the DOJ.
“In fact, Spencer and Evereklian already had decided which company would submit the lowest — and presumably winning — bid for a contract. Evereklian submitted bids from her own companies to the FBI using the names of her relatives to conceal her control.”
The companies were based near where Evereklian lived in the San Diego County area. The criminal complaint cited examples of how the fake bids would be submitted, as well as the effort to conceal Evereklian’s connection.
“On Aug. 25, 2020, in response to a request for a bid from defendant Spencer for electronic equipment, de-
fendant Evereklian emailed a bid from Maximum Media 37 LLC to the FBI for approximately $39,999.99.
In the emailed bid, defendant Evereklian wrote that the bid was submitted by a relative, M.E., when, in fact,
defendant Evereklian knew that the bid was submitted by defendant Evereklian.”
Evereklian admitted to the $350,000 figure in statements, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
AND REPAIR, TREE SERVICE. ALL TYPES OF CLEAN UPS. FREE ESTIMATES CALL
By Perry Smith Signal Senior Staff Writer
About 50 people gathered Thursday, July 10. at the Canyon Country Community Center, as city officials sought to address recent questions they’ve received about the lithium-ion battery-based energy storage system in Canyon Country.
Terra-Gen’s website describes its 2.3-acre facility near Soledad Canyon and Solemint roads as a “stand-alone 80-megawatt energy-storage project.”
Mark Turner described Terra-Gen as the designer, builder, owner and operator of the project, as the vice president of energy development for the company.
Turner said he’s been working in the industry for nearly 30 years, and he’s been involved in the Canyon Country project since the initial outreach phase. He said he also was there to explain why the project was safe from a planning aspect, along with Brian Fink, a retired New York fire captain and consultant with the Fire & Risk Alliance, a fire-protection engineering firm standing with Terra-Gen to address technical fire safety questions.
While recent incidents in the news, particularly the fire at Moss Landing, raised major concerns about what happens in the event of a fire, Turner described the project as safe because it was “a compartmentalized, outdoor, enclosure-based system.”
“We were gonna emphasize that today because the fire risk on a system like that, is essentially the container itself, which is about the size of a shed in your backyard,” Turner said. He said that was a much more realistic representation of the risk of danger than recent comparisons to Moss Landing, a Northern California 2.5-gigawatt facility scientists described as “the world’s largest collection of batteries on the grid.”
That facility caught fire and burned for days before it could be extinguished, with residents complaining of health and pollution impacts from the incident.
That project was built to an old code with a different structure that put many batteries in a single building, Turner said.
“Where we’ve located (the Canyon Country project) is safe and efficient — for the neighbors, for the community and the first responders,” he said.
Canyon Country project
Due to the area’s zoning, the project was approved by the city’s Planning Commission in 2021, according to Jason Crawford, the city’s community development manager, in previous comments on the project.
Josh Costello, an inspector with the Fire Department’s code enforcement division for fire prevention, started the meeting with an explanation of the different types, as well as the purpose of Terra-Gen’s: a place where energy from solar and wind sources can be stored when the supply is available but not needed.
He also discussed the main concerns for safety and hazards, which was the meeting’s main purpose: electric shock hazard; thermal-runaway vent gases; flammable gases (hydrogen, CO, hydrocarbons); fire and deflagration (overpressure event); and site cleanup, in the event of an incident.
“We do go over and above what the codes require, in the sense that we require the worst-case failure scenario so that we can anticipate that — out of an abundance of caution and due regard,” Costello said, adding they also require technical test reports and modeling that validates any claims about a facility.
And the initial response generally would be the same as the agency handling an industrial accident or a hazardous materials site, in the event of a fire.
Speaking to that possibility, Assistant Fire Chief Pat Sprengel talked about the preparation aspect, which involved both Santa Clarita Valley battalions, 6 and 22, having completed the training and committed to continual training, for fire protection.
He then walked residents through what a response would look like. He detailed the personnel, the approach and the strategy, and then after the presentations came public comment.
Resident feedback
Assistant City Manager Frank Oviedo opened up the question with a claim that had been repeated earlier but he wanted to address directly.
“Let me just ask the question outright,” Oviedo said. “Can these fires be put out?”
Sprengel paused and then Fink jumped in to say: “I’ll answer that one: Your best option is to let the container that’s involved burn itself out. Water is not effective. Neither is foam. There is no product that will put out a lithium ion battery — in your e-Bike, in your cellphone, in your electric scooter or in these (battery) cabinets.”
There are also options to evacuate or shelter in place in the event of an emergency, Sprengel said.
Continued from page 4
“The proposed eight total academy classes in FY 2025-26 (which have been approved in the department’s budget since FY 2022-23) are expected to continue to play a crucial role in reducing the number of sworn vacancies throughout the department, which as of the beginning of December 2024, totaled 1,393,” according to the LASD.
“As part of the fiscal year 2025-26 recommended budget, the Board of Supervisors approved $2.5 million in net county cost funding along with seven new and two previously restored positions, including three law enforcement psychologists, three industrial/organizational consultants, one assistant director, one operations assistant II and one senior secretary III,” according to the Sheriff’s Civilian Oversight Commission.
In recent years, the SCV station has been staffed at about 65% to 70% of its traditional levels, which has resulted in significant mandatory overtime. Out
A spokesman for the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station said Monday there is constant communication between deputies on patrol and at the station to evaluate service calls.
“We are doing absolutely everything we can with limited resources to provide the highest level of services to our community. Calls are constantly triaged and assessed and reassessed, based on the info we receive from our informants — sometimes we get it right, sometimes we have delayed services, but we always open the door for feedback, correction, improvement, reevaluation and strive to be the best we can be,” said Deputy Robert Jensen, spokesman for the station, in a text message Monday. “Our deputies are known by our community as always having a friendly face, a servant
attitude and going above and beyond as often as we can — no staffing level or response time is going to change that.”
While the response times indicate the station is still meeting what Diez previously referred to as the department’s “gold standard” when it comes to emergency response times, the departmentwide personnel challenges impact every station, said Deputy Tony Meraz, a spokesman for the Association of Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs, the county’s largest deputy union.
Meraz, who runs the field-training program for the Lynwood station, said when stations are staffed at their current levels, even with mutual aid from nearby stations and agencies, there are going to be difficulties, mentioning situations like the recent protests also make things harder.
“I was working the desk, and two emergency responses came out at the same time, and they were in the same geographic area,” Meraz said, explaining the choices facing deputies at his station during a previous shift.
Patrol cars are generally assigned to an area, he said. “So, a car from a different beat had to travel across the city ... to address the secondary emergency. And that just speaks to our staffing. If the staffing was at a full complement, that’s generally not an issue.”
Meraz said captains are being asked to make do with what they’re given at most stations, and it’s usually not enough.
“I’ll say that our official motto or slogan, if you will, is the ‘tradition of service,’ that’s on all of our vehicles,” Meraz said. “But our unofficial motto is, ‘Do more with less.’ I think if you polled every captain, they would painfully know exactly what that means because they’re tasked with making $1 out of, you know, 65 cents.”
New Zealand is an island country located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It has a history of Māori, Pacific Island, European and Asian immigration. The city celebrated its culture last month at the Canyon Country Community Center. Attendees learned the “Haka,” which is a traditional Māori dance; enjoyed making crafts and tasted some local fare.
Samantha Miranda Rodriguez, a two-sport student-athlete at College of the Canyons, is ready to redefine what it means to be a firefighter.
At just 21 years old, Rodriguez is already blazing a trail — literally and figuratively — in a field where women are a rare sight, said a news release from COC.
Rodriguez graduated from College of the Canyons with an associate of science degree in fire technology earlier this month, and she is joining the ranks of 90,000 female firefighters in the country, equating to 9% of all firefighters, according to statistics from the 2020 U.S. Fire Department Profile.
“When I was little, I always wanted to be a firefighter, but I felt discouraged because it’s mostly men,” the Canyon Country resident said in the release.
Standing at 5-foot-2, Rodriguez says being a woman in fire science has meant working harder to achieve her lifelong dream.
“Some people told me I wasn’t strong enough or big enough,” said Rodriguez. “I just stayed away from that negativity and worked twice as hard to prove them wrong.”
Her confidence in pursuing a fire technology career was strengthened after taking Fire Technology 101 at COC.
“My teacher, Keith Kawamoto, really believed in me and made me feel like I could actually do it, no matter what people thought,” said Rodriguez.
Kawamoto, who is chair of the college’s fire technology department, described Rodriguez as an exceptional student who is committed to excellence.
“Her strong work ethic, sense of responsibility, and ability to work with diverse groups, and strong communication skills will serve her well,” Kawamoto said in the release. “I’m confident she will succeed in anything she puts her mind to.”
While at COC, Rodriguez was also part of the track and field team during her freshman and sophomore years.
At the 2025 Western State Conference Championships, she finished runner-up in the 400 hurdles, earning an All-WSC First Team selection and was also named to the all-conference team in the 100 hurdles, high jump and javelin events.
College of the Canyons student-athlete Samantha Miranda Rodriguez recently graduated with an associate of science degree in fire technology and is set to become one of approximately 90,000 female firefighters in the United States. PHOTO COURTESY OF COLLEGE OF THE CANYONS
Rodriguez says her athletic background has served as a source of discipline and confidence for her firefighting aspirations.
“Being an athlete made me strong, disciplined, and tough, and those are all things I need to be a firefighter,” said Rodriguez.
Kim Streeter, TLC athletic coordinator, says she is not surprised that Rodriguez chose to pursue a career as a first responder, as it fits her character perfectly.
When the college’s women’s basketball team struggled to fill its roster, Rodriguez, despite limited experience with the sport, stepped in without hesitation, says Streeter.
At season’s end she was named the team’s most improved player.
“With her stamina from track and coachable mindset, she committed time and energy to help our women’s basketball program last season,” Streeter said in the release. “On top of that, she stayed on top of her academics and helped motivate her teammates to do the same. She is a true example of what it means to be an elite student-athlete.”
As a first-generation college graduate, Rodriguez
is excited about moving on but will also miss COC.
“I’m a little nervous because I’ve been at COC for a long time,” said Rodriguez, “but I know it’s time for me to move on and spread my wings.”
Rodriguez was recently hired as a wildland firefighter with the Santa Monica Mountains Recreation Area, part of the National Park Service.
“My job will be to help stop wildfires and protect property,” said Rodriguez, who will be on the fire line until November.
After wildfire season, she’ll continue her education at California State University, Los Angeles, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in fire protection administration and technology.
When it comes to advice for other women considering careers in male-dominated fields, Rodriguez recommends connecting with people who are already doing the job you want.
“There are people who will help you,” said Rodriguez. “Don’t listen to the negativity. If you work hard and believe in yourself, anything is possible.”
By Perry Smith Signal Senior Staff Writer
ACanyon Country man accused of breaking into his neighbor’s home and threatening to assault her pleaded no contest and was sentenced for one count of first-degree burglary with a person present.
Judge David Walgren sentenced 38-year-old Leonard Floyd Grim to four years in state prison and agreed to a request from the prosecution to require at least 10 years of sex-offender registration for Grim.
He was given credit for 570 days of time served for nearly 500 days he spent in custody and “good time/work time,” according to court records.
The L.A. County District Attorney’s Office amended the criminal complaint in April after negotiations with Grim’s attorney over a possi -
ble plea deal.
The allegation of a person present makes the crime “a serious and violent felony,” according to Deputy District Attorney Yasmin Fardghassemi in the minute order for the case, which requires a defendant to serve 85% of a sentence.
The prosecution also emphasized the importance of granting a 10-year protective order to keep the defendant from the victim, as their families’ residences share a wall, and they are essentially neighbors.
After the defendant is released, he is not allowed to live at his parents’ place or visit that property.
The Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station officials arrested Grim within hours of receiving a 911 call on Feb. 7, 2024, from the 16000 block of Goodvale Street. A woman called 911 at 5:25 a.m. and reported a man had broken in and put his hand over her mouth while he was screaming incoherently, according to station officials at the time.
Grim’s attorney raised doubts about his client’s ability to aid in his defense, with a judge granting Grim a medication order in September. After Grim’s release from medical treatment, he was cleared for trial.
Prosecutors mentioned witness statements and past allegations against Grim in their arguments for 10 years of sex-offender registration.
A 2019 University of Colorado news release identified Grim in video as a trespassing suspect wanted by the campus police department for questioning in an unspecified investigation. They later stated he was arrested on suspicion he accessed a residential area without a keycard and issued a “campus exclusion.”
The court orders issued against Grim at his sentencing also included fines and restitution to be determined at a hearing in July.
Exploring where and how we live and celebrating the people and fabric of the Santa Clarita Valley.
The city of Santa Clarita is rolling out the big screen once again for City Cinemas, providing free screenings of popular films at local parks.
Showings are every fourth Friday from June through September, each at a different location in the city.
Guests are invited to bring blankets and folding chairs. Food trucks will begin selling an hour before each movie begins.
Each film will have a different start time and location. The following is the
2025 City Cinemas schedule:
July 25 “Inside Out 2” (PG), 8 p.m. at Central Park, 27150 Bouquet Canyon Road.
Aug. 22 “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” (PG-13), 7:30 p.m. at The Centre, 20880 Centre Pointe Parkway.
Sept. 26 “Jaws” (PG), 7 p.m. at Canyon Country Community Center, 18410 Sierra Highway.
For more information on the city of Santa Clarita’s City Cinemas series, visit SantaClarita.gov/CityCinemas or email aeo@santaclarita.gov.
Erskine
Canyon Country Community Center
Friday, August 8 6-9 p.m.
Celebrate highlights cultures, customs and culinary wonders featuring music, dance, food, art and more.
Canyon Country Community Center
18410 Sierra Highway 91351 (661) 290-2266
Canyon Country Community Center
Open Gym Schedule
Open gym activities are available to people of all skill levels.
Monday – Friday
8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Saturday
9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Sunday CLOSED
Table Tennis (18+)
Wednesdays 9 a.m. - noon
Please bring your own paddle. Pickleball (18+)
Fridays 9 a.m. - noon
Please bring your own paddle.
Regular Gym Hours will Resume on August 8.
July 21
18410 Sierra Highway, Canyon Country 91351 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.
noon Lunch at the Library
1:30 p.m. Little Explorers
5:30 p.m. Monday Night Magic: The Gathering
July 22
noon Lunch at the Library
3:30 p.m. Afternoon at the Library: 3-D Modeling and Building
July 23
9:30 a.m. Storytime
noon Lunch at the Library
5:30 p.m. Wood Burning Ornaments
July 24
9:30 a.m. Cuenta Cuentos
noon Lunch at the Library
4 p.m. Teen Game Day: Telephone PLictionary Art
July 25
noon Lunch at the Library
July 26
10 a.m. Sit and Stitch
August 4 RESERVATION
10 a.m. Red Cross Blood Drive
August 6
4:30 p.m. Canyon Country TAB
6 p.m. Thrilled to Read Book Club
August 7
6:30 p.m. Club de Mujeres Latinas en Literatura
August 9
10 a.m. Sit and Stitch
August 18
5:30 p.m. Monday Night Magic: The Gathering
August 23
10 a.m. Sit and Stitch
September 1 CLOSED LABOR DAY
September 3
4:30 p.m. Canyon Country TAB
6 p.m. Thrilled to Read a Book Club
September 4
6:30 p.m. Club de Mujeres Latinas en Literatura
Saturdays
Central