Sheriff's Dept. Investigates Group of Santee Teens Running Amok

Throughout the summer reports cropped up of a group of youths running amok throughout Santee committing various crimes and disturbances. Now, Captain Lisa Miller of the Santee Sheriff's Station confirms a group of teens is under investigation for a number of crimes, but can't confirm it's all being done by the same group.

Locals report that the group call themselves the "Outlaws," a name Detective John Whiteman said the station is aware of. Some residents have banded together to proactively work against their delinquency. 

Miller said that nine juveniles, age 15-17, were arrested Saturday for a variety of charges, including curfew and resisting arrest, in the area of Town Center Park. One adult was arrested for being drunk in public.

"We are familiar with this group of juveniles but because of many factors we do not consider them a gang," said Miller.

"We are currently working a number of cases involving them." 

She confirmed that several of these same juveniles were involved in an assault in July, which is still under investigation.   

Miller said the department has good photos from a surveillance camera when alcohol was stolen from a local convenience store, but because they do not know if it is a juvenile, they aren’t allowed to share them with the public. The Sheriff's Department can only release limited information about the suspects because they are juveniles.

Here is a recent posting from the Santee Patch Conversation Boards giving an example of what people are reporting (all details in this board post could not be confirmed by Patch):

"There is a gang of kids running around Santee  calling themselves the 'Outlaws.' They have attacked in the last 2 months two of our children here in the community. 3 of the "Outlaws" have done time in Juvy. 1 of them just got out and is on house arrest. Their is still around 12 or so running around. They steal alcohol from Circle K and Albertson's and retreat to their "hide out" over behind Edgemore Hospital. The Santee Sherriff's arrested about 12 of them this past Saturday night 9/21. You may have heard the 2 helicopters above that night. Most were released to their parents and a couple more were put in Juvy. Let's work together to put and end to them."

Captain Miller reminds the public that in an emergency they should call 911, or for nonemergency calls the number is 858-565-5200. 

COMMENT: Have you heard of this group of teens? Had any interactions with them?