Staff Reports

Inland Empire – Over the last month, several crime incidents took place in Eastvale and Norco.  See the list below of crime in the last month, courtesy of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

INCIDENT: Sexual Assault of a Minor

WHEN: September 18, 2019

WHERE: 13000 block of Coldwater Court, Eastvale  

On September 18, a School Resource Officer and Administrators at Centennial High School located in the City of Corona were notified of a sexual assault involving a 16-year-old female student. Based on preliminary information, the assault appeared to have occurred within the city limits of Eastvale. Deputies assigned to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department responded to the high school and contacted the victim. Due to the nature of this incident, investigators from the Jurupa Valley Sheriff’s Station assumed the investigation.

The investigation revealed on September 18, Jay Myungbae Kim, 23-year-old resident of Eastvale, communicated with the victim using a social media application. Kim drove a white 2017 Honda Accord, license plate #7UZV740, to the area of Rimpau Avenue and Olympic Drive, located in the City of Corona and picked up the victim after school. Kim drove to his residence, located in the 13000 block of Coldwater Court, Eastvale. While at his residence, Kim sexually assaulted the victim. After the assault, Kim drove the victim back to Centennial High School and dropped her off.

On September 25, investigators conducted an undercover operation and located Kim near Centennial High School. A search warrant was served at Kim’s residence and he was ultimately booked into the Riverside County Jail for sexual assault related charges and his bail was set at $500,000.00.        

Based on this investigation, it is believed Kim might have communicated with other underage females via social media applications. This investigation is still active and the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department asks anyone with information pertaining to this investigation to contact Investigator Medina at the Jurupa Valley Sheriff’s Station by calling (951) 955-0952.  

INCIDENT: Residential Burglary, Possession of Stolen Property, Identity Theft, Felon in Possession of a Firearm

WHEN: September 16, 2019

WHERE: 1900 block of Norco Dr., Norco

On Monday, September 16, around 3:08 pm, deputies responded to the 1900 block of Norco Dr., Norco, in reference to a residential burglary investigation. The residents arrived home and reported that the residence had been forced into and several items were taken. Surveillance video was captured of the suspects as they left the residence. The Norco Special Enforcement Team took over the investigation.

Deputies learned that the suspects had utilized several credit cards belonging to the victim in the city of Fontana. After reviewing surveillance video, deputies followed up with suspect leads that led them to a residence located in the 2300 block of Orange St., Riverside.

A search warrant was obtained for the residence and on Thursday, September 19, 2019, deputies served the search warrant. Three suspects were arrested and during a search, deputies located the victims’ stolen property from the burglary and an altered sawed off shotgun.

The following suspects were arrested and booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center:

Justin Sorg, a 35-year-old male resident of Riverside, Leopoldo Lopez, a 30-year-old male resident of Riverside, and Raelynn Kruse, a 40-year-old female resident of Riverside.

If you have any information pertaining to this investigation, you are encouraged to contact Deputy Kehrier at (951) 270-5673 at the Norco Sheriff’s Station. 

INCIDENT: Child Pornography/Illegal Marijuana Grow 

WHEN: September 12, 2019

WHERE: 7000 Block of Canterwood Court, Eastvale

On Thursday, September 12, about 7 AM, members of the Riverside County SAFE/ICAC Task Force (Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement/Internet Crimes Against Children) and members of the Region-7 Gang Task Force conducted a joint operation regarding the service of a search warrant at a residence in the 7000 Block of Canterwood Court in the City of Eastvale. The search warrant stemmed from a lengthy investigation regarding the on-line sexual exploitation of children. Task force officers contacted the single occupant and renter inside the residence. He was identified as 45-year-old Eastvale resident, Bryan James Green. Task force officers determined Green was in possession of child sexual abuse images. Task force officers also discovered an indoor illegal marijuana grow operation with approximately 400 plants in various stages of growth. The plants have an estimated street value of $80,000. Task force officers also discovered electricity was being illegally bypassed with an estimated utility theft of $ 120,000. Members of the Eastvale Community Enhancement Safety Team (CEST) were also summoned to assist in the investigation.  

Green was later booked in custody at the Robert Presley Detention Center and booked into custody for the following charges:

• Possession of child pornography
• Possession of an illegal marijuana grow
• Felony theft of utilities

Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact Investigator Rich Boyd with the SAFE/ICAC Task Force at (951) 955-5486 or Corporal James Herington with the Region-7 Gang Task Force at (951) 955-2460.

INCIDENT: Theft of a Community Mailbox 

WHEN: September 5, 2019

WHERE: Emmerdale Street and Kensington Court, Eastvale 

On Thursday, September 5, a deputy assigned to the Eastvale Police Department responded to Emmerdale Street and Kensington Court, in the City of Eastvale regarding a theft of a community mailbox. The suspects involved in this theft removed the entire community mailbox from the ground and fled the location. A citizen within the Eastvale community provided video surveillance, which captured images of the suspects and the vehicle used during the commission of this crime. 

Investigators assigned to the Jurupa Valley Sheriff’s Station and deputies assigned to the Eastvale Police Department’s Special Enforcement Team assumed the investigation. On Tuesday, September 10, 2019, a search warrant was written for a residence and a vehicle located in the 5800 block of Hamner Avenue, Eastvale, also known as Swan Lake. Several pieces of stolen mail and other items linking the suspects to the theft were located during the service of this search warrant.

Nadia Gomez-Nunez, 41-years-old, and David Avila, 31-years-old, both residents of Eastvale, were ultimately arrested for grand theft, conspiracy, mail theft and other applicable charges.

There are times when homeowners are not aware their mail has been stolen. The Eastvale Police Department encourages homeowners to visit the United States Postal Service website at www.USPS.com and enroll in the United States Postal Service’s Informed Delivery in an effort to protect their mail.

If you have any information pertaining to this investigation, you are encouraged to contact Investigator Medina at (951) 955-2600 at the Jurupa Valley Sheriff’s Station. 

INCIDENT: Shooting Investigation

WHEN: August 27, 2019

WHERE: 6500 block of Gladiola Street, Eastvale

On August 27, at 11:25 a.m. Riverside County Sheriff’s Deputies assigned to the city of Eastvale responded to a report of a shooting near the 6500 block of Gladiola Street in the city Eastvale. Several reporting parties called to report the shooting and that two males were hiding in a front yard. Deputies responded and the suspects fled on foot into several backyards. A Riverside County Sheriff’s police service dog was utilized to find the suspects who were taken into custody. Numerous items of stolen property were recovered in area of the suspects to include a handgun. Deputies investigating the scene located several vehicles that were struck by gunfire and numerous spent shell casings were recovered in the street, sidewalks and yards.

At this point in the investigation, there are no outstanding victims or suspects and there is no threat to the public.

Bryce Anthony Mcdonald, a Black male adult, 18 years old, a resident of Corona, was arrested at the scene for possession of stolen property, obstructing a peace officer and burglary.

The 15-year-old black male, resident of Corona, was booked into Juvenile Hall

Anyone with information on this case is encouraged to call Deputy C. Johnson at the Jurupa Valley Sheriff’s Station by calling (951) 955-2600.