Homeless 'Shanty Town' Along Creek Through Ramona Addressed at Meeting

The lieutenant of the Ramona Sheriff's Station recently addressed the issue of a "shanty town" of transients camped along the creek that runs through Ramona that has been an ongoing issue for law enforcement, including the Border Patrol.

The topic was brought up at the Ramona Revitalization Steering Committee meeting in November. Lt. James Bovet described the situation as a "rather large transient population," of about 20-30, living on private property that is part of the Santa Maria Creek bed.

"There is a small shantytown north of Montecito Bridge... including spiderholes, two room apartments dug into the ground," said Bovet.

He said the Sheriff's Department has done about six sweeps this year, with five or six arrests per sweep. A joint cleanup with Ramona Water District was recently conducted to combat the large amount of trash that is in the creek because of the encampment.

Bovet said the department is looking for people during these sweeps that are camping illegally, trespassing, or have warrants out for their arrest. Mounted Sheriff's patrols go through the creek on horseback.

County Supervisor Dianne Jacob, who was at the meeting, asked Bovet if the transients were leaving the area because of the sweeps. He said that the number fluctuates.

"Quite a few Mexican nationals come through seasonally," he said.

Bovet also said that Border Patrol has done sweeps of the creek. One was done before summer, without the Ramona Sheriff's Station's involvement.

"The Sheriff's Department follows state law, it's not our policy to enforce immigration law," said Bovet.

He said the property owners try to put up fences that get knocked down, and have similar problems that the department has in keeping them off their land.

"Hopefully by attacking the problem and being consistent with it we'll combat transients," said Bovet.