ROSAMOND, CA -- Deputies from the Rosamond substation say they received a call Monday night to keep the peace regarding a child custody matter at an apartment located at 1332 Rosamond Blvd.
During the investigation deputies learned the father of the juvenile, 24-year-old Dwight Richard Lawson Jr., had the child in his care and was a parolee at large. Deputies also determined that Lawson had a no bail parole warrant for his arrest, was considered armed and dangerous, and was possibly in possession of a firearm.
Deputies from the Rosamond, Mojave, and Tehachapi substations attempted to contact Lawson at the apartment to check the welfare of the child and to arrest Lawson. Lawson and three other adults were inside the apartment, but refused to answer or exit the apartment. Deputies also learned that there were two additional children in the apartment. Based on the information, deputies requested the sheriff’s office SWAT team respond.
The sheriff’s SWAT team responded and assumed control of the incident. A search warrant was obtained and several neighboring apartments were evacuated for safety. Extra time was taken to make several announcements requesting the adults exit the apartment because of the children inside. After a period of time Lawson and the other adults exited the apartment and were detained. The apartment was searched and all three children were found inside safe and uninjured.
All of the neighboring tenants were allowed to return to their apartments.
During the search of the apartment an assault rifle was located. The rifle had been reported stolen from the California City area. As a result of the investigation Lawson was arrested for possession of a firearm after a previous felony conviction as a minor, receiving stolen property, ex-felon in possession of a firearm, delaying or resisting arrest, possession of an assault rifle, and the no bail parole warrant. He was booked into the Sheriff’s Office Central Receiving Facility. His bail has been set at $50,000, but he is being held without bail on the parole warrant.
The other adults were released pending further investigation.
During the investigation deputies learned the father of the juvenile, 24-year-old Dwight Richard Lawson Jr., had the child in his care and was a parolee at large. Deputies also determined that Lawson had a no bail parole warrant for his arrest, was considered armed and dangerous, and was possibly in possession of a firearm.
Deputies from the Rosamond, Mojave, and Tehachapi substations attempted to contact Lawson at the apartment to check the welfare of the child and to arrest Lawson. Lawson and three other adults were inside the apartment, but refused to answer or exit the apartment. Deputies also learned that there were two additional children in the apartment. Based on the information, deputies requested the sheriff’s office SWAT team respond.
The sheriff’s SWAT team responded and assumed control of the incident. A search warrant was obtained and several neighboring apartments were evacuated for safety. Extra time was taken to make several announcements requesting the adults exit the apartment because of the children inside. After a period of time Lawson and the other adults exited the apartment and were detained. The apartment was searched and all three children were found inside safe and uninjured.
All of the neighboring tenants were allowed to return to their apartments.
During the search of the apartment an assault rifle was located. The rifle had been reported stolen from the California City area. As a result of the investigation Lawson was arrested for possession of a firearm after a previous felony conviction as a minor, receiving stolen property, ex-felon in possession of a firearm, delaying or resisting arrest, possession of an assault rifle, and the no bail parole warrant. He was booked into the Sheriff’s Office Central Receiving Facility. His bail has been set at $50,000, but he is being held without bail on the parole warrant.
The other adults were released pending further investigation.