Probation crackdown nets 9 arrests

Costa Mesa police arrested nine people Tuesday during a seven-hour probation sweep through the city.

Five arrests were made at the same motel, according to a Police Department news release. Police said they picked up three people on probation and two other individuals on drug violations at the Vagabond Inn on Harbor Boulevard just south of the 405 Freeway.

Officers contacted six more probationers and arrested one on drug charges at another motel on Harbor, the Costa Mesa Motor Inn, according to police.

Police arrested three more people at different locations throughout the city for allegedly violating probation by being under the influence of drugs or alcohol or having an outstanding warrant.

In total, the department checked on 31 probationers who are out of jail on the Post-Release Community Supervision (PCS) program.

The program is part of California’s “realignment plan,” which shifts some inmates from state prisons to county jails to ease overcrowding.

PCS puts nonviolent offenders eligible for parole under the supervision of local authorities instead of state parole officials.

The Police Department said in the release that the sweep was part of a “zero tolerance” program for probation violations within the city.