Tag Archives: City of Riverside

Suspect Arrested for Sexually Assaulting a Child in Public Library Restroom

Staff Reports

Riverside – Earlier this month a father and his two young children were at the SPC Jesus S. Duran Eastside Public Library.  The Library is located at 4033 Chicago Avenue in the Eastside neighborhood of Riverside. At around 5:00 pm, his six-year-old son went to the restroom on his own. Video cameras at the library captured the boy walking toward the restroom as an unknown Hispanic male suspect watched. The suspect followed the boy into the restroom and sexually assaulted him. Following the assault, the suspect quickly fled the library on foot and ran through a nearby shopping center and proceeded toward University Avenue.

The victim informed his father of the assault and the father immediately notified library staff. Riverside PD was called and officers responded to the library and began their investigation. An exhaustive search for the subject was conducted in the surrounding area however the police were unable to locate the suspect.

Detectives from the Sexual Assault – Child Abuse Unit assumed the investigation and were able to quickly identify the suspect as Juan Francisco Palacios, a 29-year-old male transient living in Riverside. Once identified, detectives coordinated their efforts to locate Palacios with members of the Riverside County S.A.F.E. (Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement) Task Force, Riverside County Probation, and the Riverside Police Department’s METRO Team (SWAT). The METRO Team also utilized their partnership with the United States Marshals Service in the search for the suspect.

A short time later, Riverside PD was contacted by the main branch of the Riverside Public Library, located at 3581 Mission Inn Avenue, who reported that a subject matching the description of Palacios was at the library. When officers arrived, the subject was safely detained and identified as the suspect they were looking for. Palacios was arrested and taken to the police station for questioning by detectives. He was later booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center on a single charge of sexual assault against a minor under the age of 10 and probation violations. Palacios is currently on probation for possession of child pornography and is required to register as a sex offender.

If anyone has information regarding this investigation, please contact Detective Daniel Mercadefe at (951) 353-7120 or dmercadefe@riversideca.gov, or Detective Stacie Ontko at (951) 353-7121 or sontko@riversideca.gov.

 

Woman Crashes Into Corona Walmart Produce Section

Photo: courtesy of Corona Police Department
A vehicle crashed into the produce section of a Corona Walmart Sunday, April 15. The driver was cited for suspicion of driving under the influence. (Courtesy Corona Police Department)

By Anthony Saude

Corona– A Riverside woman crashed her sedan through the glass door and into the produce section of a Corona Neighborhood Walmart on an otherwise uneventful Sunday evening in April.

The woman who was later identified as Diane Mickens, 56, of Riverside, drove through the entrance of the store in the 1500 block of W. Sixth Street around 7:45 p.m. Sunday, April 15, Corona police officials said.

A Walmart employee called 911 after the vehicle came to a rest approximately 25 feet into the produce section. Witnesses say, Mickens got out of the sedan, walked away from the scene and left her two passengers engulfed bin debris and scattered fruits and vegetables.

Officers found Mickens a little later walking near Smith Street and Pleasant View Avenue, she was detained. When the Paramedics showed up at the scene they determined Mickens needed  medical attention. She was transported to a local hospital where she was issued a citation for suspicion of driving under the influence.

She was the only one hurt in the crash.

Many people enquired about the reason the woman wasn’t being held in jail.

“If a person in police custody is treated at a medical facility, the taxpayers end up paying for the cost of that treatment,” A Corona police representative explained on Facebook. Just issuing a citation has no impact on the charges the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office may file later date.

It’s standard operating procedure for the department to issue a citation when a suspect requires medical treatment.

 

Brother of San Bernardino Shooter Pleads Guilty In Immigration Fraud Case

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By United States Attorney’s Office 

RIVERSIDE-Syed Raheel Farook, the brother of deceased San Bernardino attacker Syed Rizwan Farook, pleaded guilty today in federal court in an immigration fraud case stemming from the investigation of the December 2, 2015 attack in San Bernardino in which 14 people died and 22 were wounded.

Syed Raheel Farook, 31, of Corona, California, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit immigration fraud before United States District Judge Jesus Bernal.

As a result of today’s guilty plea, Syed Raheel Farook faces a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison, a fine of up to $250,000 and up to three years of supervised release. Judge Bernal is scheduled to sentence the defendant on November 13.

Syed Raheel Farook; his wife, Tatiana Farook; and his sister-in-law, Mariyah Chernykh, were charged in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in April 2016. All three were charged with conspiracy to knowingly make under oath a false statement with respect to a material fact in an application, affidavit, and other document required by the immigration laws and regulations of the United States, and to commit perjury.

The indictment alleges that, beginning in late 2014 and continuing through February 2016, the three defendants conspired with Enrique Marquez Jr. to obtain immigration benefits for Chernykh by arranging and carrying out a fraudulent marriage between Chernykh, a Russian citizen, and Marquez, a United States citizen. The conspirators allegedly made false statements in immigration documents submitted on Chernykh’s behalf.

In addition to the conspiracy count, Chernykh is charged in the indictment with two counts of making false statements under oath in immigration documents and one count of making false statements to federal agents about the scheme. A trial for Tatiana Farook and Chernykh is currently scheduled for March 28.

Marquez was charged in a separate federal indictment with participating in the marriage fraud scheme, as well as plotting with San Bernardino attacker Syed Rizwan Farook in 2011 and 2012 to carry out attacks in the Inland Empire. Marquez is also charged with supplying two firearms that Syed Rizwan Farook and his wife, Tashfin Malik, later used in the San Bernardino attack and during the shootout with law enforcement that ended in the couple’s death. Marquez is scheduled to go on trial before Judge Bernal on September 26.

“Today’s guilty plea is the result of the thorough investigation into the brutal attack in San Bernardino that took the lives of 14 innocent Americans and tragically affected many more shooting victims and family members,” said United States Attorney Eileen M. Decker. “Law enforcement and prosecutors in my office continue to seek justice for the victims and the entire community of San Bernardino by uncovering and prosecuting all of the criminal activity related to the terrible events of December 2. As I have said many times, we are committed to leaving no stone unturned in this investigation.”

“The false statements Mr. Farook admittedly made allowed others to cut the line to attain citizenship ahead of legitimate applicants,” said Deirdre Fike, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “This guilty plea should serve as a message for anyone contemplating similar activity that flouting the immigration laws of the United States has serious consequences.”

“Let there be no doubt, immigration benefit fraud is a serious crime,” said Joseph Macias, special agent in charge for HSI Los Angeles. “When people use false or misleading information in order to obtain an immigration benefit for themselves or others, it creates a security vulnerability that could be exploited by criminals and other individuals who pose a serious danger to our community. As this case makes clear, HSI will aggressively target those who conspire to corrupt the integrity of America’s legal immigration system, putting our nation’s security at risk in the process.” The investigation in this case was conducted by the Joint Terrorism Task Force in Riverside, which includes the Federal Bureau of Investigation; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the San Bernardino Police Department; the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department; and the United States Attorney’s Office.

These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jay H. Robinson, Melanie Sartoris and Deirdre Z. Eliot of the Terrorism and Export Crimes Section with substantial assistance from Trial Attorney C. Alexandria Bogle of the Justice Department’s Counterterrorism Section.

3 arrested during Blue cut Fire evacuations

Staff Reports  

Photo courtesy: SBSD

Photo courtesy: SBSD

Diamond Bar- During the Blue cut Fire on August 18, a Diamond Bar resident was one of three suspects who attempted to steal on the 8600 block of Swarthout Canyon of the San Bernardino area during the time of mandatory evacuations.

The SBSD deputies responded to suspicious activity at a home that was located within the evacuation areas. Once deputies arrived, they made contact with the suspects who had brought a flat bed truck and were attempting to leave.

The three suspects were identified as 29 year-old Riverside resident Trevor Sanchez, 27 year-old Diamond Bar resident Natasha Rovinsky, and 27 year-old  Jurupa resident Daniel Mervine. They had informed the deputy that they were picking up property for a friend that resided on that property.

According to SBSD, “Deputies made contact with the property owner who advised that he did not give anyone permission to take his property.”

The three suspects were then taken into custody without further incident and will be booked for Looting and Grand Theft Auto.

If anyone has additional information related to the suspects who were involved, you are urged to contact Sheriff’s Central Station at (909) 387-3545. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can call the WeTip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463) or you may also leave information on the WeTip Hotline at www.wetip.com

 

Outdoor Fun and Relaxation

Fairmount Park

Photo courtesy: Racine Guajardo

Photo courtesy: Racine Guajardo

By Racine Guajardo  

Riverside- This park features various entertainment for a family filled day such as, two tennis courts, playground, picnic facilities, a rose garden, fishing at Lake Evans and Brown Lake, lawn bowling green, barbecue areas, and a restored historic boathouse that offers pedal boat rentals.

Fairmount Park is located at 2601 Fairmount Blvd. in Riverside. The park lies between the Santa Ana River and Route 60 to the north with an area of 35 acres. If you exit Market Street, the destination is on your right side, which is easy to find!

At the park, there is access to walking trails. Walks around the park and on the bridge also give a nice view to see wild life such as ducks and geese on the Lake.

One man fishing said, “this is one of few places that I enjoy fishing at.” He also said he likes going in the evening time about 5 or 6 p.m. because he caught 4 fish in one day.

A Chino resident, Mary Gonzales says, “ I went two weeks ago (at the concert in the park) it was nice a lot of families having fun enjoying dancing and barbecue. I was also there about 2 months ago for a huge car show that had a DJ and a taco man.”

The bonding experience between parents and kids are memories you won’t forget. Michael Mascarenas says, “I like Fairmount Park mostly because of the environment, its family friendly, they allow pets, my daughter loves to fish in the lakes, and the park itself is big and roomy with nice playgrounds.”

Families enjoy taking the drive to Fairmount to escape the heat. Indio resident Marlena Arcides loves to take her three boys and says, “We always take a walk around the whole park and stop in the rose garden area and finish off at the play ground. Robert said his favorite part is the tank, Isaac said his favorite is the play ground and Damian said he likes everything about it.”

Within Fairmount Park, there is also a service kitchen for banquets and meetings that may be rented through the Park and Recreation Department at (951) 826-2000. Also, there is a nine-hole golf facility that you can go to whether you are new or an experienced golfer. The Fairmount golf course has a lighted driving range with mats or grass hitting areas, 2 practice greens, a meeting facility and snack bar and we are open 365 days a year.

If you would like to know more information, you may visit www.riversideca.gov and look under the Parks, Recreation, & Community Services.

Man Arrested For Felony Evading

Staff Reports

Riverside– A Riverside resident was arrested on June 9, for felony evading, vehicle theft, and a hit and run collision. Officer Sandoval was on an unrelated traffic stop when he heard the suspect driving at high speeds toward him.

The suspect identified as 19-year-old, Alejandro Gonzalez was traveling at high speeds exceeding 70 mph through residential neighborhoods. Gonzalez allegedly ignored Officer Sandoval’s emergency lights to stop him, while led him on a pursuit. With Gonzalez traveling at high speeds, he hit a dip at Eton Drive and Minona Drive, causing him to airborne. Once the vehicle landed, the tires blew out and caused him to lose control and crash into a tree.

Although Gonzalez was injured, he still attempted to evade on foot. Officer Sandoval caught up to Gonzalez and took him into custody.

Gonzalez was transported to Loma Linda University Medical Center by ambulance for medical attention.

With further investigation, the vehicle Gonzalez was driving was an un-reported stolen vehicle outside of the City of Riverside. The vehicle was totaled from the crash.

The criminal case was submitted to the District Attorney’s Office because of the injuries for felony evading, driving while intoxicated, hit and run, and vehicle theft.