Tag Archives: Riverside County

Stay At Home Order Response

Staff Reports

Eastvale– The State recently issued a limited Stay at Home Order for Counties in the Purple Tier, which includes Riverside County and the City of Eastvale.

According to a statement issued by Erica S. Pan, Acting State Public Health Officer, the order is requiring that “all gatherings with members of other households and all activities conducted outside the residence, lodging, or temporary accommodation with members of other households cease between 10:00pm PST and 5:00am PST, except for those activities associated with the operation, maintenance, or usage of critical infrastructure[1] or required by law.” Pan stated that this order does not apply to those that are homeless. “Nothing in this order prevents any number of persons from the same household from leaving their residence, lodging, or temporary accommodation, as long as they do not engage in any interaction with (or otherwise gather with) any number of persons from any other household, except as specifically permitted herein,” stated Pan. The order began November 21 and will remain in effect until 5 a.m., December 21.

Many had various opinions about the recent order and how it would affect the city. However, on November 19, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco issued the following statement in response to the Stay at Home Order: “The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department is aware of the new Limited Stay at Home Order issued by the Governor set to go into effect on Saturday at 10:00pm.
It is very important that all of us do everything we can to protect ourselves from contracting or spreading this virus. The only way to ensure you do not contract the virus is to stay at home and avoid contact with others. For those going out into public, it is very important to protect yourself from contracting and/or spreading the virus by wearing a mask and social distancing.
It has been the policy of the Sheriff’s Department to encourage responsible behavior and compliance with the Governor’s orders. To ensure constitutional rights are not violated and to limit potential negative interactions and exposure to our deputies, we will not be responding to calls for service based solely on non-compliance with the new order or social distancing and mask guidelines.
I would like to wish everyone a safe and Happy Thanksgiving holiday.”

Crime Recap February

Staff Reports

Inland Empire – Last month, several crime incidents took place in Eastvale and Norco.  The incidents are listed below, courtesy of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department. 

INCIDENT: Burglary

WHEN: February 29, 2020

WHERE: 5700 block of Daybreak Dr., Eastvale

On February 25, a deputy from the Jurupa Valley Station, assigned to the city of Eastvale, responded to the 5600 block of Serenity St, in the City of Eastvale regarding multiple burglaries. The suspect(s) involved in the burglaries entered apartment garages and removed several property items from the garages and fled the location.   

Deputies from the Jurupa Valley Sheriff’s Station Special Enforcement Team (SET) assigned to the city of Eastvale assumed the investigation. During their investigation, they were able to determine a series of garage and vehicle burglaries were occurring in the Homecoming community in the city of Eastvale. 

On Saturday, February 29, the SET conducted an undercover operation within the Homecoming community. During the operation, they witnessed a burglary in progress. The suspect fled the scene on foot toward an unknown location. The SET established a perimeter around the area, located the suspect, and a short foot pursuit ensued. Subsequently, the suspect was taken into custody. 

Courtesy: Riverside County Sheriff’s Dept.
Garrett Thomas Bliven

Garrett Thomas Bliven, 20-year-old resident of Eastvale, was ultimately arrested for burglary, possession of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and resisting/delaying a peace officer. Bliven was booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center for the above listed charges. 

Anyone with further information about this incident is encouraged to call Deputies Hughes and Boggs at the Jurupa Valley Station, 951-955-2600.

INCIDENT: Residential Burglary Arrest

WHEN: February 23, 2020

WHERE: 5500 Block of Cambria Ave., Eastvale

On Monday, February 24, at 9:02 A.M., deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, responded to an in-progress residential burglary in the 5500 block of Cambria Avenue, located in the city of Eastvale. Deputies arrived and saw a backyard window smashed and other evidence of a burglary. Deputies conducted a protective sweep, but the suspect fled the residence, prior to their arrival. 

Courtesy: Riverside County Sheriff’s Dept.
Victor Manuel Lopez

Video surveillance from a Ring doorbell camera at the residence helped identify Victor Manuel Lopez, a 27-year-old male resident of Chino Hills, as the suspect. Joint investigation with the Ontario Police Department revealed Lopez was staying at a motel room, located in the 2300 block of South Grove Avenue, located in the city of Ontario. Deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department and the Ontario Police Department located Lopez at the motel and he was taken into custody. Lopez was booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department is asking anyone with additional information is encouraged to call Deputy Delgado at the Jurupa Valley Station, 951-955-2600.  Persons who wish to report criminal activity and wish to remain anonymous can call crime stoppers at 800-78-CRIME (800-782-7463) or 800-47-DRUGS (800-473-7847).  Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s CrimeTips online form.

INCIDENT: Assault with a Deadly Weapon

WHEN: February 21, 2020

WHERE: Maggie Lane cross of Mayfield Street, Eastvale

On Friday, February 21, at about 3:25 PM, deputies from the Jurupa Valley Sheriff’s Station responded to a report of an Assault with a Deadly Weapon in the area of Maggie Lane and Mayfield Street, located in the city of Eastvale. Upon arrival, deputies located two female juveniles who sustained minor and non-life-threatening injuries. The preliminary investigation revealed the victims were walking home from school when a white, 4-door sedan with front end collision damage drove past them. The vehicle was occupied by four black male adults, who pointed a realistic looking pistol, then fired shots at them from the vehicle. The weapon used was not a firearm but possibly an airsoft or pellet pistol. The projectile that struck both victims left superficial marks on their body. The vehicle and suspects fled the area prior to deputies arrival.   

On Sunday, February 23, 2020, deputies from the Jurupa Valley Sheriff’s station conducted a follow-up investigation and located and arrested 18-year-old Eastvale resident, Markus Robert Zurawski. He was booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center. 

Anyone with additional information is encouraged to call Deputy Hernandez at the Jurupa Valley Station, 951-955-2600.  Persons who wish to report criminal activity and wish to remain anonymous can call crime stoppers at 800-78-CRIME (800-782-7463) or 800-47-DRUGS (800-473-7847).  Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s CrimeTips online form or http://www.wetip.com.  

INCIDENT: Narcotics for Sale Search Warrant

WHEN: February 11, 2020

WHERE: 5800 Block of Hamner Avenue, Eastvale

On February 11, at 7:30 PM, members of the Jurupa Valley’s Special Enforcement Team (SET) representing the cities of Jurupa Valley and Eastvale served a narcotic’s for sale search warrant in the 5800 block of Hamner Ave, in the city of Eastvale.  During the service of the search warrant, deputies located approximately 1oz of methamphetamine, 49 rounds of live 223 Cal. ammunition, 23 rounds of live 20 gage shotgun ammunition, miscellaneous ammunition, three high capacity AR-15 magazines, fictitious U.S. currency and additional items indicative with possession for sales. Also, located were two suspected stolen Los Angeles County Sheriff uniform shirts.

Courtesy: Riverside County Sheriff’s Dept.
Michael De La Madrid

Michael De La Madrid, a 35-year-old resident of Eastvale, was arrested for possession of narcotics for sales, Forgery, Felon in possession of ammunition and high capacity magazines. De La Madrid was booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center for the above listed charges. 

Anyone with further information about this incident is encouraged to call Deputy Boggs at the Jurupa Valley Station, 951-955-2600. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s CrimeTips online form.

INCIDENT: Marijuana Indoor Cultivation Warrants

WHEN: February 6, 2020

WHERE: Multiple locations throughout the City of Eastvale

Members of the Jurupa Valley Station’s Special Enforcement Teams (SET) representing the cities of Jurupa Valley and Eastvale have been aggressively targeting illegal indoor marijuana grows throughout the cities of Eastvale and Jurupa Valley in 2020.

On February 4 and 6, at 11:00 AM, members from the Jurupa Valley station’s SET conducted marijuana eradication search warrants at the direction of Sheriff Chad Bianco. They served two residential search warrants within the city of Eastvale. 

INCIDENT: Major Injury – Hit and Run Traffic Collision

WHEN: February 3, 2020

WHERE: Hamner Avenue cross of Third Street, Norco

On Monday, February 3, about 10:36 PM, deputies from the Jurupa Valley Station – Traffic Reconstruction Team responded to a report of a major injury traffic collision involving a vehicle versus a pedestrian on Hamner Avenue, cross of Third Street in Norco. 

Upon arrival, deputies located a male adult with major injuries. The male victim was transported to a local hospital, where he is listed in critical condition. The driver of the vehicle fled the scene northbound Hamner and subsequently eastbound on Third. The vehicle is described as a 2013-2017 dark color Jeep Patriot. The Jurupa Valley Station’s Traffic Reconstruction Team is conducting a full investigation to determine the cause of the collision and if alcohol/drugs were a factor during this major injury traffic collision. 

Anyone with additional information is encouraged to call Deputy Petersen at the Jurupa Valley Station, 951-955-2600. Persons who wish to report criminal activity and wish to remain anonymous can call crime stoppers at 800-78-CRIME (800-782-7463) or 800-47-DRUGS (800-473-7847). You can also leave anonymous information at the Sheriff’s CrimeTips online form or www.wetip.com.

Crime Recap January

Staff Reports

Inland Empire – In January, several crime incidents took place in Eastvale and Norco. The incidents are listed below, courtesy of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.  

INCIDENT: Major Injury Traffic Collision

WHEN: January 26, 2020

WHERE: River Road cross of Baron Road, Eastvale

On Sunday, January 26, 2020, about 7:34 AM, deputies from the Jurupa Valley Station responded to a report of a single vehicle traffic collision at River Road cross of Baron Road, in the city of Eastvale.

Upon arrival, a small compact vehicle was located in the embankment area of the Santa Ana River. The vehicle was occupied by a single male adult.  The male occupant sustained major injury and was transported to a local hospital. Preliminary investigation revealed that the vehicle was traveling southbound on River Road when the vehicle struck a curb and launched into the embankment at Baron Road. The Jurupa Valley Station’s Traffic Reconstruction Team is conducting a full investigation to determine the cause of the collision.

Anyone with additional information is encouraged to call Deputy Shamhart at the Jurupa Valley Station, 951-955-2600.  Persons who wish to report criminal activity and wish to remain anonymous can call crime stoppers at 800-78-CRIME (800-782-7463) or 800-47-DRUGS (800-473-7847).  You can also leave anonymous information at //www.riversidesheriff.org/tipline or www.wetip.com.

INCIDENT: Robbery

WHEN: January 23, 2020

WHERE: 13000 block of Limonite Ave, Eastvale

On Thursday, January 23, 2020, at 11:15 AM, deputies assigned to the city of Eastvale responded to a strong-arm robbery at the CareMore Pharmacy, located in the 13000 block of Limonite Ave in the city of Eastvale.  Initial reports indicated an unknown white male adult entered the business and walked toward the cashier counter demanding money from the register, while holding one hand behind his back. The suspect fled with money taken form the cash register concealing it in a black bag.

Deputies arrived and established a perimeter around the area and searched for the suspect, but they did not locate him.  During the ongoing investigation, in collaboration with the Riverside Police Department, information was obtained that identified the suspect as 40-year old Haissam Massalkhy from Pomona who is currently on Parole. 

On Thursday, January 30, 2020, Deputies from the Eastvale Special Enforcement Team conducted a follow up investigation. They arrested Massalkhy, retrieved items of clothing that were worn during the incident, and charged him with robbery.

Anyone with information pertaining to this investigation is encouraged to contact Deputy Hughes at (951) 955-2600

INCIDENT: Residential Burglary Arrest

WHEN: January 15, 2020

WHERE: 4900 Block of Viceroy Avenue, Norco

On January 15, 2029 at 5:15 P.M., Deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department-Norco Station, responded to the location for an unknown subject inside of the victim’s garage. The subject fled the residence on foot, prior to deputy arrival. The family at the location provided vital identifying information and location of the suspect. Deputies contacted the subject near the Nature Center. He was reluctant to provide his name to the arresting deputies. Evidence of a burglary was located on the subject and he was consequently arrested. He was booked at the Robert Presley Detention Center for Burglary and Impeding an Investigation.

The subject was initially booked as a John Doe, but through the booking process was identified as Nathan Ahern, 40 years-old WMA and transient from the City of Riverside. Ahern was also wanted for two Felony Warrants out of Los Angeles County for Arson. He is being held without Bail.

Anybody with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact Deputy R. Whittenburg at the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Norco Station at 951-270-5673

INCIDENT: Robbery Arrest

WHEN: January 11, 2020

WHERE: 3000 Block of Shadow Canyon Circle, Norco

On January 11, 2020, at 11:15 P.M., Deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department-Norco Station, responded to the 3000 block of Shadow Canyon Circle, Norco, in reference to a burglary in progress. The victim awoke to noises inside his residence and located two unknown Hispanic Male Adults inside his spare bedroom attempting to take property. The victim confronted the suspects and an altercation occurred causing the victim to sustain minor injuries.

The suspects managed to get away from the victim and escape through a bedroom window, leaving behind several items. Th Riverside County Sheriff’s Forensics Team responded to process the scene that evening.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department-Norco Station’s Special Enforcement Team continued with the investigation. On Tuesday, February 4, 2020, crucial identifying information was obtained from Forensics which identified, Alberto Jose Cruz Perez, a 19-year-old male, resident of Inglewood, as one of the suspects. After an extensive search for Cruz, he was located and detained in the City of Riverside on February 5, 2020.

Alberto Jose Cruz was consequently placed under arrest for Robbery and booked into the Robert Presely Detention Center where he is being held on $35,000 bail.

This investigation is still ongoing. Anybody with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact Deputy J. Kehrier at the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Norco Station at 951-270-5673

INCIDENT: Discharging a Firearm in a Grossly Negligent Manner

WHEN: January 11, 2020

WHERE: 6200 Block of Bay Street, Eastvale

On January 11, 2020, at 11:32 pm, deputies assigned to the city of Eastvale responded to the 6200 block of Bay Street regarding a man firing a gun outside.  Deputies located the male suspect, identified as 31-year-old Eastvale resident, Jorge M. Lopez, on the street and arrested him. No injuries were reported by residents in the area.  Deputies served a search warrant at Lopez’s residence and located four firearms.  Lopez was booked into Robert Presley Detention Center for discharging a firearm in a grossly negligent manner. 

The investigation is on-going. Anyone with further information is encouraged to contact Deputy Linfoot #3786 from the Jurupa Valley Sheriff’s Station at (951) 955-2600

Area Crime Recap April 2018

Staff Reports

 

Incident: Warrant Sweep

When: 4/14/18

Where: Jurupa Valley

Details: Some think if they just don’t show up for a court hearing, the police won’t have the manpower to come find them.  If your violation is a DUI or traffic related, don’t count on it.   On April 14, 2018, The Jurupa Valley Traffic Team with dozens of outstanding arrest warrants fanned out into neighborhoods in search of high risk DUI offenders and others with traffic related warrants. Officers served warrants and arrested offenders who either failed to show up for a court date or violated terms of their probation in an outstanding traffic-related case.  “The best bet for anyone with a missed court date is to go to court on their own now,” said Sergeant Raemie Wood. “If you don’t, that warrant isn’t going away. We’re going to come find you and take you to jail.” Those caught often face additional jail time for failing to appear in court or for violating probation. When family, friends, and co-workers find out, violators can also face personal embarrassment as they are led away in handcuffs, as well as missing work while sitting in jail. Special Warrant Service Operations along with regularly scheduled ‘High Visibility’ DUI enforcement has a deterrent effect on those who disregard driving safety and abuse alcohol and drugs.  The Jurupa Valley PD places a high priority on lowering deaths and injuries with the goal of removing impaired drivers and heightening awareness of the dangers of driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Funding for the operation is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Report Drunk Drivers; Call 9-1-1! Results: Warrants Attempted: 28 ,  Warrants Served: 10

Incident: Fatal Traffic Collision

When: 4/18/18

Where: Mission Blvd. cross of Vernon Ave., Jurupa Valley

Details: On Wednesday, April 18, 2018, about 2:55 PM, officers from the Jurupa Valley Police Department responded to a traffic collision on Mission Boulevard cross of Vernon Avenue, in Jurupa Valley, involving a motorcycle and a vehicle.  Officers arrived on scene and immediately attempted life-saving measures to the motorcyclist until they were relieved by American Medical Response paramedics. The motorcyclist succumbed from his injuries. The Jurupa Valley Station’s Traffic Reconstruction Team is conducting a full investigation to determine the cause of the collision. Alcohol or drugs do not appear to be a factor in this collision. The victim will remain unidentified at this time pending Coroner notification to the next of kin. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to call Deputy Robles at the Jurupa Valley Station, 951-955-2600.  Persons who wish to report criminal activity and wish to remain anonymous can call crime stoppers at 800-78-CRIME (800-782-7463) or 800-47-DRUGS (800-473-7847).  You can also leave anonymous information at www.riversidesheriff.org/tipline or www.wetip.com.

Incident: Homicide

When: 4/18/18

Where: 5200 Block of Stone Ave., Jurupa Valley

Details: On April 18, 2018, detectives from the Burbank Police Department requested assistance from the Riverside Sheriff’s Department regarding a homicide investigation involving three Hispanic male victims. Their investigation led Burbank detectives to a residence of interest on the 5200 block of Stone Avenue, in Jurupa Valley. Personnel from the Sheriff’s Special Enforcement Bureau and the Central Homicide Unit assisted Burbank detectives with serving a search warrant at the Stone Avenue address. Based on the circumstances and evidence found at the scene, the Sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit assumed the homicide investigation.   The identities of the victims are being withheld until families are notified.  This is an on-going investigation and no further information will be released at this time.  Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Central Homicide Unit Investigator Gonzales at 951-955-2777.

Incident: Homicide Investigation

When: 4/20/18

Where: Canal St. cross Mission Blvd., Jurupa Valley

Details: On Friday, April 20th, 2018 at about 7:37 pm, officers assigned to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department-Jurupa Valley Station were dispatched to a “Man Down” call in the area of Canal St. x Mission Blvd., in the city of Jurupa Valley.  Officers arrived and located an adult male victim deceased near the rail road tracks.  The identity of the victim is being withheld pending notification to the next of kin.  There is no suspect information available for release at this time. The Riverside Sheriff’s Department-Central Homicide Unit and Jurupa Valley Station Investigators have assumed the investigation. Investigators are requesting the public’s assistance with any information regarding this incident and are encouraged to please call Investigator Button of the Sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit at (760) 393-3531.

 

Incident: Street Racing & Traffic Safety Enforcement

When: 4/21/18

Where: Area of Augua Mansa x Brown, Jurupa Valley

Details: On Saturday, April 21, 2018, Jurupa Valley Police Officers conducted zero tolerance enforcement activities in an effort to combat illegal street racing, sideshows, reckless driving and other related traffic offenses.  A marked increase in street racing related activity has been noted at several locations throughout the city in recent months, jeopardizing the public as well as the participants themselves. During the enforcement operation, officers responded to multiple reports of vehicles and pedestrians congregating in the area of Auga Mansa and Brown, Jurupa Valley. Upon the arrival of officers, several vehicles were observed driving recklessly in close proximity to spectators. The following persons were arrested for street racing and/or reckless driving, blocking the road to facilitate street racing, and other related vehicle code violations. All three subject’s vehicles were towed.

In an effort to keep the community safe, the Jurupa Valley Police Department will continue zero tolerance enforcement operations targeting illegal street racing activities and reckless driving. It should be noted that these operations will include arresting and or citing participants and spectators at these illegal events.

 

 

 

 

Eastvale Area Crime Recap: January 2018

 

INCIDENT: TORTURE/ CHILD ENDANGERMENT

WHEN: 1/14/2018

WHERE: 100 Block of Muir Woods Road, Perris, CA

 

Early Sunday morning on January 14, 2018, a 17-year old juvenile escaped from her residence situated in the 100 Block of Muir Woods Road, Perris and managed to call 911 from a cellular device she found inside the house.  The teenager claimed her 12 brothers and sisters were being held captive inside the residence by her parents and further claimed some of her siblings were bound with chains and padlocks.

When Police Officers from the Perris Police Department and Deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department met with the juvenile, she appeared to be only 10 years old and slightly emaciated.  After a brief interview with the female, they contacted 57-year old David Allen Turpin and 49-year old Louise Anna Turpin at the residence where the teenager escaped.

Further investigation revealed several children shackled to their beds with chains and padlocks in dark and foul-smelling surroundings, but the parents were unable to immediately provide a logical reason why their children were restrained in that manner.  Deputies located what they believed to be 12 children inside the house, but were shocked to discover that 7 of them were actually adults, ranging in age from 18 to 29.  The victims appeared to be malnourished and very dirty.  Perris Station Detectives were dispatched to the residence for further investigation.

All 13 victims, ranging from the age of 2 to 29, were transported to the Perris Station and interviewed.  Both parents were detained and transported to the station for further investigation.  Child Protective Services (CPS) and Adult Protective Services (APS) arrived to assist in the investigation.  The victims were provided with food and beverages after they claimed to be starving.

The six children were eventually transported to the Riverside University Hospital System (RUHS) for medical examinations and admitted for treatment.  The seven adult children were transported to Corona Regional Medical Center for an examination and admitted for medical treatment.

Both parents were interviewed in this matter and subsequently transported to the Robert Presley Detention Center (RPDC).  They were booked for violations of California Penal Code Section 206–Tortureand Section 273a(A)–Child Endangerment.  Bail was set at $9,000,000.00 each.

Anyone with additional information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact Master Investigator Tom Salisbury at the Perris Station by calling (951) 210-1000, or by email at PerrisStation@RiversideSheriff.org

 

INCIDENT: DEPUTY INVOLVED SHOOTING

WHEN: 1/14/18

WHERE: 3900 block of Brotherton Street, Unincorporated Community of Home Gardens

 

At approximately 1:09 AM, deputies from the Jurupa Valley Sheriff’s Station responded to a report of a stabbing within the 3900 block of Brotherton Street.

After their arrival, the deputies eventually contacted two Hispanic male adults, both of whom suffered from stab wounds.  As the investigation unfolded, there was a deputy involved shooting with one of the two Hispanic male adults.  A handgun was located at the scene of the shooting.

The Deputies and emergency medical personnel rendered medical aid to both men at the scene, and both men were transported to an area hospital for additional treatment. The circumstances surrounding the stabbing, as well as the subsequent deputy involved shooting remain under investigation.  The names of the involved subjects will not be released at this time. The deputy involved has been placed on administrative leave per department policy. The involved deputy’s name will not be released at this time. No deputies or other citizens were injured during the incident.

Investigators from the Riverside County Sheriff Department’s Central Homicide Unit and Jurupa Valley Station responded and assumed the investigation. Anyone with information regarding the incident is encouraged to contact Central Homicide Unit Investigator Dickey at (951) 955-2777.

 

INCIDENT: COMMERCIAL ROBBERY- ARREST

WHEN: 1/12/18

WHERE: 8000 block of Limonite Avenue, Jurupa Valley

DETAILS: On January 12, 2018, Jurupa Valley deputies responded to a robbery in progress call at a drugstore located at  the 8000 block of Limonite Avenue, Jurupa Valley.  Employees said the suspect stole cash and was armed with a crowbar.

Deputies saw a male matching the description of the suspect exiting the store. They pursued the suspect on foot to a nearby neighborhood, where he was apprehended with help from the Jurupa Valley K-9.

21-year-old Jurupa Valle resident, Jose Romero, was arrested and booked at Robert Presley Detention Center for robbery.

The investigation is on-going. Anyone with further information is encouraged to contact Detective Martinez from the Jurupa Valley Sheriff’s Station at (951) 955-2600.

 

INCIDENT: ROBBERY

WHEN: 1/10/18

WHERE: 6200 Block of Arcadia Street, Eastvale, CA

DETAILS: An 81-year-old female victim was robbed of her purse containing a large sum of money.  The incident occurred in her garage after the victim exited her car to walk inside the house.  As a result of the robbery, the victim received a non-life-threatening injury in which she was treated at a local area hospital.

We’re asking anyone with information about this incident to contact Deputy Johnson at (951) 955-2600.

INCIDENT: GRAND THEFT

WHEN: 1/9/18

WHERE: Eastvale

DETAILS: On January 9, 2018, at 1:04 p.m., a grand theft occurred at a business in the 12000 block of Limonite Avenue in the City of Eastvale. The suspect, who was identified as a 16-year old juvenile from the city of Rowland Heights, entered the business and stole a cellular phone valued at one thousand dollars. The juvenile fled the location in a white van south on the I15 freeway. A Deputy from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department located the van traveling southbound on the I15 freeway and initiated a vehicle stop. The front passenger was identified as the juvenile that stole the cellular phone and was arrested. The stolen cellular phone was recovered and returned to the business. The juvenile was charged with grand theft and released to his parents.

INCIDENT: ATTEMPTED MURDER & ARSON

WHEN: 1/3/18

WHERE: 28000 block of Yosemite Place, Canyon Lake, CA

DETAILS: On January 3, 2018, a female resident of Canyon Lake was inside her house when she was startled by a loud thud, similar to an earthquake.  Seconds later, a wooden stake crashed through her living room window, followed by a burning road flare.  The flare ignited the interior of her house, burning the window blinds and carpet.  However, she quickly retrieved the device and threw it onto her driveway before any further damage occurred.

As the victim exited her house, she was confronted by her next-door neighbor; 45-year old David Brian Harry.  When the victim screamed at Harry to stop, he yelled several expletives and made vulgar comments about her.  At the same time, he ignited another road flare and set the victim’s wooden fence ablaze.  The victim was able to douse the flames with her garden hose before the house caught fire, but not before a portion of the fence was permanently damaged.

The victim called 911, so Harry fled in his pick-up truck, which appeared to have been lodged against the victim’s house.  Within minutes of the emergency call, police officers from the Canyon Lake Police Department engaged Harry, but he fled in his truck.  Officers and Riverside County Sheriff’s Deputies pursued Harry from Canyon Lake to Lake Elsinore, and then into the city of Corona, but he refused to yield to the emergency vehicles.

California Highway Patrol Officers assumed control of the pursuit and successfully disabled Harry’s truck tires on the 15-Freeway.  However, Harry continued to evade officers and led them on a slow speed pursuit on the 91-Freeway towards Orange County.

Harry’s vehicle eventually left the freeway near Featherly Park in Yorba Linda and came to rest near the intercounty bike trail.  Harry refused officers commands to surrender, but he was eventually placed under arrest after a brief struggle from resisting their attempts to detain him.

Canyon Lake PD Officers took custody of Harry and transported him to the Sheriff Department’s Perris Station for further investigation while CHP impounded his vehicle.  After Harry was interviewed, he was booked at the Cois Byrd Detention Center for Attempted Murder, Arson and Committing a Felony while out on Bail.  Bail for Harry was denied since he had committed virtually the same criminal act in April 2017, and had attempted to burn down the same residence at that time.

Anyone with additional information regarding this investigation or information about similar incidents involving Harry is encouraged to contact Investigator Flores at the Perris Sheriff’s Station by calling (951) 210-1000, or by email at PerrisStation@RiversideSheriff.org

Crime Re-cap for December

Staff Reports

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, including Eastvale Police and Corona Police, has done a great job combating crime in the area. Read a recap below to see what happened in the month of December.

Norco- On Thursday, December 22, 2016, at 5:45 A.M., deputies from the Norco Sheriff’s Office responded to the 3300 Block of Hamner Avenue in the city of Norco reference an unconscious male lying in a parking lot. Deputies arrived within minutes and located an adult male, deceased at the scene. Preliminary investigation indicates the deceased male may have been struck by a vehicle and the incident is being investigated as a fatal hit and run traffic collision. Traffic Investigators responded to the scene and have assumed the investigation. The name of the decedent is being withheld pending notification to next of kin. Preliminary investigation revealed the pedestrian was initially struck by an unknown vehicle and the driver fled the scene without stopping and providing aid.

Eastvale, CA – The Eastvale Police Department’s Traffic Unit conducted a DUI/Drivers License checkpoint on December 16, 2016, at Hamner Ave. cross of Limonite Ave. between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 3:00 a.m. Checkpoints are placed in locations that have the greatest opportunity for achieving drunk and drugged driving deterrence and provide the greatest safety for officers and the public.

Results: 513 Vehicles Screened; 3 DUI-Alcohol suspects arrested, 5 Arrested for warrants, 20 Drivers cited/arrested for operating a vehicle unlicensed or while suspended/revoked, and 43 Citations issued.

Eastvale- On Friday, December 9, 2016, the Eastvale Police Department’s Traffic Division conducted a grant-funded traffic enforcement operation as part of its commitment to public safety. This operation is one of many that will be conducted throughout the year. This operation was conducted at numerous locations in the city of Eastvale where major injury and fatal collisions have occurred. The purpose of this operation was to educate motorists about dangerous driving such as exceeding the posted speed limit, failing to stop at stop signs, and using cellular devices while driving to name a few. The operation was conducted from 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm. The results ended in 35 citations being issued.

Jurupa Valley- On December 7, 2016, Jurupa Valley police officers received information the residents from an address in the 4000 block of Bain Street were involved in multiple vehicle thefts and vehicle burglaries. While surveilling the residence, deputies saw a silver Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck parked in the back of the property. A records check revealed the truck was stolen from a residence in Eastvale on December 2, 2016.

Deputies contacted the occupant of the stolen truck, Steven McCary (age 31 of Jurupa Valley) and detained him for possession of a stolen vehicle. With the assistance of the Jurupa Valley Police and Eastvale Police Special Enforcement Teams (SET), a wallet that had been stolen from an unlocked car in Eastvale on December 6, 2016, was also recovered. McCary was booked in jail for possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of a controlled substance, possession of stolen property, and committing a crime while on bail.

Corona- On Dec. 28, the Corona Police Department received a call regarding an in-progress commercial burglary at Graziano’s Pizza, 333 Magnolia Avenue, in Corona. Officers responded to the area while CPD dispatch relayed information from the reporting party. The suspect vehicle, a white Dodge Intrepid, was located in the area and a traffic stop was attempted, but the vehicle failed to yield, which initiated a vehicle pursuit. The suspect vehicle was pursued to the 1600 block of Leeson Lane, Corona where the suspect vehicle drove over a curb flattening its tires. The officers located and detained two of the three male suspects, who were later identified as brothers Rodney Shorter II, 21-year-old, and Rodney Shorter III, 19-year-old, of Long Beach. The third suspect was not located.

The investigation revealed that the suspects burglarized Graziano’s Pizza, removing a safe and cash register drawers, and minutes prior they had committed another commercial burglary at Chronic Taco, 160 E. Ontario Avenue, in Corona. The safe taken from Graziano’s Pizza was recovered from the suspect vehicle. In addition, burglary tools, two cloth masks, and a stolen firearm which had been reported stolen out of Los Angeles County were recovered. Both suspects were booked for Commercial Burglary, Possession of Stolen Property, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, and Evading a Police Officer.

Farook Pleads Guilty in Immigration Fraud Case

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.

 

Sheriff Station Commanders Promoted

Courtesy City of Eastvale

Sheriff Stan Sniff has appointed 2 new Chief Deputies on December 22, 2016, to fill existing vacancies created by recent retirements within the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

Captain Cheryl Evans was appointed to Chief Deputy and will oversee Corrections Operations, which consists of jail facilities in Blythe, Indio, Banning, Temecula and Riverside. She has served in the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department for 22 years.

Chief Deputy Cheryl Evans began her law enforcement career in 1991 with the Corona Police Department, where she volunteered as a Reserve Police Officer. After joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, she worked in the Corrections Division assigned to the Blythe Jail, and later, patrol at the Blythe Sheriff’s Station, now known as the Colorado River Station.

In 1997, Chief Deputy Evans transferred to the Moreno Valley Station, where she worked patrol, traffic, and the Problem Oriented Policing (POP) team. In 2003, she promoted to the rank of Corporal within the Moreno Valley Station. In 2004, Chief Evans was promoted to the rank of Investigator within the Moreno Valley Station and later transferred to the Special Investigations Bureau, assigned to the Central Homicide Unit.

Chief Deputy Evans was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 2005,and transferred to the Perris Station. Her assignments while at the Perris Station included supervising patrol, traffic and the field training program.

In 2009, Chief Deputy Evans promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and returned to the Moreno Valley Station where she held assignments in patrol, administration, and the detective bureau. In 2012,she transferred to the Personnel Bureau.

In 2014, Chief Deputy Evans was promoted to the rank of Captain by Sheriff Stan Sniff and assigned to the Coordinated Custody Management Unit (CCMU). In 2015, she was assigned as the commander of the Robert Presley Detention Center (RPDC) and most recently, as the commander overseeing Court Services East.

Chief Deputy Evans possesses a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and a Master’s degree in public administration, both awarded from California State University, San Bernardino. She is also a graduate of the Sherman Block Leadership Institute(SLI).

Chief Evans lives in the city of Riverside with her husband and five-year-old son.

Captain Jason B. Horton was appointed to Chief Deputy and will oversee West Field Operations which consists of the Jurupa Valley, Moreno Valley and Perris Sheriff’s Stations, the Special Investigations Bureau (SIB), as well as the Sheriff’s Media Information Bureau (MIB). He has served in the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department for 23 years.

Jason B. Horton joined the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1989 as a Reserve Deputy Sheriff assigned to the Sheriff’s Riverside Station, which is now replaced by the Jurupa Valley Station. In 1993, he was hired as a Deputy Sheriff and attended the 125th Basic Peace Officers’ Academy.

Upon academy graduation, he was assigned to the Southwest Detention Center. He later completed assignments at the Hemet, Perris and Jurupa Valley Sheriff’s Stations. While in field operations, Horton was promoted to the ranks of Senior Deputy Sheriff and Corporal and held collateral assignments as a Field Training Officer (FTO), Special Enforcement Team (SET) member, and School Resource Officer (SRO).

In 2004, Chief Deputy Horton was promoted to Sergeant and worked in the Corrections Division, and later at the Ben Clark Training Center (BCTC) and Perris Station. While in Perris, he worked on the transition of the city of Menifee becoming a sheriff’s contract city.

In 2009, Chief Deputy Horton was promoted to Lieutenant. As a Lieutenant, he held assignments at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility (SCF), Jurupa Valley Station, and the Special Investigations Bureau (SIB). While in Jurupa Valley, Horton worked on the transition of the cities of Eastvale and Jurupa Valley becoming sheriff’s contract cities.

Chief Deputy Horton was promoted to Captain in 2013 by Sheriff Stan Sniff and served as the Coordinated Custody Management Unit (CCMU) Commander. In April 2014, he was transferred to the Jurupa Valley Station as the commander and as chief of police for the cities Eastvale, Jurupa Valley, and Norco.

Chief Deputy Horton holds a Bachelor’s Degree from California State University San Bernardino in Criminal Justice and a Master’s Degree from the University of Redlands in Management. He is a graduate of Class 214 of the Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership course (SLI). He has served as an academy instructor for 16 years, teaching topics in law, supervision and defensive tactics.

Chief Deputy Horton is the fourth generational member of his family to serve in law enforcement, which started with his great-grandfather being a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. He and his wife Jacqueline have four children and reside in Riverside.

ERHS Teacher Surprised

Staff Reports

Photo courtesy: CNUSD ERHS teacher, Amanda Sandoval, was surprised when she found out she became a 2017 Riverside County Teacher of the Year.

Photo courtesy: CNUSD
ERHS teacher, Amanda Sandoval, was surprised when she found out she became a 2017 Riverside County Teacher of the Year.

Eastvale – An Eleanor Roosevelt High School teacher was recently surprised after being recognized as a 2017 Riverside County Teacher of the Year.

Amanda Sandoval, an ERHS U.S. history teacher, was taken by surprise last month when she walked into the Mustang theater filled with balloons, hundreds of cheering students, colleagues, family members, and District representatives. She was given flowers and the Riverside County Office of Education Superintendent, Mr. Kenneth Young, announced that she was selected as one of the 2017 Riverside County Teachers of the Year.

Superintendent Young also shared student feedback from Sandoval’s application process that revealed how one of her students expressed a desire to become a history teacher like her. “There is no greater honor you can give a teacher,” Superintendent Young said.

Following the surprise, Sandoval shared: “I love my coworkers and my principal. It’s easy to be good at the job with so much support.”

Sandoval has taught U.S. history at Eleanor Roosevelt High School since first becoming a teacher in 2007. “She creates opportunities for her students to engage with history in their own community, is a sought-after presenter on topics related to English language learners and technology, and has been described as having ‘an unquenchable thirst to maximize her instruction,’” said a CNUSD news release.

Ms. Sandoval’s approach to helping students understand history includes assigning projects that propel her students into historical moments in time so they can envision history happening as if they were an actual character in the story. Not only does Ms. Sandoval promote positive praise and digital literacy in her classes, she shares her social studies lessons online with other teachers and regularly receives feedback from teachers around the country who are successfully utilizing her ideas in their classrooms, according to CNUSD. She earned a bachelor’s degree from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, and is a resident of Corona.

“Congratulations Mrs. Sandoval! Your passion, vision, and hard work leaves a lasting impact in the lives of our students!” stated a CNUSD post.

 

Three Arrested In Connection To Terrorist Attack

Three People Connected to Shooter in San Bernardino Terrorist Attack Arrested on Federal Conspiracy, Marriage Fraud and False Statement Charges

By United States Attorney’s Office
Riverside– Three people with family connections to Syed Rizwan Farook, one of the perpetrators of the December 2, 2015 terrorist attack at the San Bernardino Inland Regional Center (IRC), were arrested last week on federal conspiracy, marriage fraud and false statement charges.
A five-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury charges three defendants in a marriage fraud conspiracy that involved making false statements under oath for the purpose of obtaining immigration benefits for one of the defendants.
The three defendants arrested are:
• Mariya Chernykh, 26, of Ontario, who, according to official records, is married to Enrique Marquez, Jr., who is awaiting trial on charges of conspiring with Syed Rizwan Farook in 2011 and 2012 to provide material support to terrorists;
• Tatiana Farook, 31, of Corona, who is Chernykh’s sister;
• Syed Raheel Farook, 31, of Corona, who is Tatiana Farook’s husband and Syed Rizwan Farook’s brother.
The indictment charges all three defendants in a 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. This charge carries a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison.
The indictment also charges Chernykh with fraud and misuse of visas, permits, and other documents; perjury; and two counts of making material false statements to federal agents. These four charges carry a combined statutory maximum sentence of 25 years in federal prison.
When Marquez was indicted by a federal grand jury at the end of 2015 with conspiring with Syed Rizwan Farook to provide material support to terrorists, he was also charged with entering into a sham marriage with Chernykh in November 2014 and illegally signing an immigration form that falsely declared he was living with her (see:http://go.usa.gov/cuKEm).

“This is the latest step in the comprehensive investigation into the horrific attacks in San Bernardino last year that took the lives of 14 innocent Americans and deeply affected so many more,” said United States Attorney Eileen M. Decker. “As I have said previously, we owe the victims, and the entire community of San Bernardino, a thorough investigation that uncovers all criminal activity surrounding these events. Today’s arrests open a new phase in the process of bringing to justice all individuals who allegedly committed crimes that were uncovered during our exhaustive investigation. The charges also reflect the importance we place on statements made to law enforcement officials during a terrorism investigation. Those who lie to or conceal material information from law enforcement officers investigating terrorist acts will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Acting Assistant Director of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, James Struyk, said, “Members of the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force worked around the clock in an attempt to find immediate answers in the days and weeks following the December murders in San Bernardino to ensure no additional threats to the community were present. As proof of our enduring commitment to the victims and their families, the FBI and our partners will continue to pursue all leads developed in this matter to build cases when evidence of a crime is revealed.”
Joseph Macias, Special Agent in Charge U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Los Angeles, stated: “Last year’s tragedy in San Bernardino showed yet again how our nation’s legal immigration system can be subverted and exploited by those intent on doing this country harm. As the second largest presence on the nation’s Joint Terrorism Task Forces, HSI special agents, in collaboration with their JTTF partners, are using their unique skills and authorities, including their immigration expertise, to pursue individuals and organizations that pose a threat to domestic security. As this case underscores, that vigilance extends to those whose actions directly or indirectly put our communities and our country at risk.”
The case against Chernykh and the Farooks stems from the overall investigation into the IRC terrorist attack. While investigating the terrorist attack, federal agents obtained official records showing that Marquez, a former neighbor of Syed Rizwan Farook’s, is married to Chernykh. The investigation determined that Marquez agreed to marry Chernykh so she could obtain immigration benefits that were not available to her because she is a Russian citizen and did not have legal status in the United States. The indictment alleges that Marquez received money from Chernykh to enter into the sham marriage.
In furtherance of this conspiracy, both Marquez and Chernykh signed immigration documents, under penalty of perjury, that included information that they lived at the same address, when they did not.
Syed Raheel Farook and Tatiana Farook participated in the conspiracy by, among other things, witnessing Marquez and Chernykh’s wedding, taking staged family pictures of Marquez and Chernykh, establishing a joint checking account for Marquez and Chernykh, and creating a back-dated lease for Marquez and Chernykh to create the illusion that they shared a marital residence with Syed Raheel Farook and Tatiana Farook.
FBI agents interviewed Chernykh as part of the investigation into the IRC terrorist attacks, and she allegedly made false statements that she lived with Marquez at Syed Raheel Farook and Tatiana Farook’s residence in Corona.
All three defendants are expected to be arraigned on the indictment in United States District Court in Riverside.
An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in court.
This operation is the result of an ongoing investigation by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, which includes partners with HSI, the San Bernardino Police Department, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, the Ontario Police Department, the Riverside Police Department, the Corona Police Department and the Chino Police Department.

Crime Increases in 2015, With Biggest Increase in Unincorporated Areas

Riverside County Sheriff’s Department

Overall Crime:

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department has released preliminary crime statistics for calendar year 2015, indicating an overall increase of 7.4% in all reported FBI Part I crimes

Violent Crime increased by 6.6% in the Sheriff’s areas of Riverside County (both unincorporated areas and cities), along with 7.4% increase in overall property crime in those same areas.  The FBI typically publishes final crime data for 2015 later this year.

Although homicides were down sharply by nearly 26% for 2015, there was a 7.4% increase in the number of robberies and for aggravated assaults reported to the Sheriff.  The overall FBI violent crime numbers (homicide, rape, robbery & aggravated assaults) increased by 6.6% across all of the Sheriff’s areas.  Reported rapes increased by 2.4% over the previous calendar year.  The violent crime numbers were the highest reported since 2012.

Property crimes (burglaries, auto thefts & felony thefts) in the Sheriff’s areas of responsibility (county and cities) within Riverside County increased by 7.4%, although burglaries were sharply reduced by over 20% in 2015.

Auto thefts increased by over 20% in 2015, contrasted with the previous year and were the highest number reported since 2007.

Contract Cities Only:

Within just the Sheriff contract law enforcement cities combined, violent increased 2.4%, property crimes increased 5.7%, with FBI Part I Crimes increasing 5.5%.  The Sheriff’s contract policing services provides each of our 17 community partners with a flexible menu of services and each city is able to control its police staffing levels along with their own unique focus for their respective community.  The Sheriff’s local commanders serve as city police chiefs for each city manager and are just as responsive as any other city department head.  This responsiveness encourages considerable initiative and creativity in dealing with local crime challenges in each of those partner cities.

Unincorporated Areas Only:

Within just the unincorporated areas of Riverside County, violent crime increased 18.3% from 2014 to 2015, and Property crimes increased by 14.2%, and all FBI Part I Crime was up in the unincorporated areas by 14.6% in 2015, the highest since 2012.  In the unincorporated areas of Riverside County, the overall increase in reported Part 1 crimes was impacted the most by aggravated assault, auto theft, and larceny-theft.

Patrol staffing has been held without any increases by County direction and funding at 1.04/1000 population since June 2014, placing on hold the previous County policy under the buildup of patrol deputy staffing in the unincorporated areas up to 1.2 sworn/1000 population over the several years. In contrast, the Sheriff’s contract city partners each staff their cities in accordance with their own desires.

The Sheriff’s Department serves as the contract policing agency partner with 17 of Riverside County’s 28 cities and also serves the unincorporated areas of Riverside County for criminal investigations.  Altogether, the Sheriff is responsible for policing nearly 1.4 million residents of the County’s population of 2.3 million. Annually Sheriff’s Department dispatchers receive over 1.6 million phone calls from the public and dispatch nearly 900,000 calls for service (CFS) by Sheriff’s staff, with nearly 1/3 being in-progress calls for service. Riverside County is the 4th most populous of California’s 58 counties, and the 10th most populous county with the nation.

Some notes:

There are a number of factors that may be attributable to increases in Riverside County crime.  The rise in aggravated assaults, may well be attributed to the increase in assaults related to Domestic Violence.  Incidents related to spousal assaults were up markedly.  Overall, almost half of all reported aggravated assaults in unincorporated Riverside County involved domestic or spousal violence.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department has a long history of collaboration with all responsive agencies when it comes to the application of domestic violence resources.  Our investigative bureaus across the county have designated Domestic Violence Threat Management (DVTM) trained investigators focusing on reviewing of domestic violence reports to identify training or follow-up needs, identifying subjects likely to commit repeated acts of domestic violence, participating in multi-agency collaborative countywide threat management teams, handling high-profile or threat management domestic violence incidents, and mentoring deputies to improve initial and follow-up domestic violence investigations.  All of this is focused on supporting the victim, stopping the behavior, and breaking the cycle of violence.

The Department also works closely with the Family Justice Courts, the District Attorney and their Victim Witness advocates, the SAFE team, and support organizations such as ‘Shelter from the Storm’ and the ‘Riverside Area Rape Crisis Center’ to assist with restraining orders, group sessions, safety plans, and individual victim needs such as food and gas vouchers, along with a number of other Crime Victim Assistance programs.  The Department also recently received a three year grant from the “Office of Violence against Women” to continue to improve the criminal justice response to sexual, domestic, dating, and stalking violence against women.

Auto theft is an area where Riverside County has also seen increases.  The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) notes that auto theft is on the rise all across the United States, yet there is no identifiable reason.  Washington, California, Nevada, and New Mexico are among the top five states for auto theft.  Riverside County mirrors the national trend, in that the Honda Accord and Civic, Ford F-Series and Chevrolet Silverado trucks, and the Toyota Camry are among the vehicles most at risk for theft.

An additional area of note is the category of larceny-theft.  Within this category, thefts from vehicles and shoplifting had significant increases.  A likely reason for the increase in thefts from vehicles is related to identity thefts.  We attribute this, because wallets, purses, and mail items were frequently reported as being taken from targeted vehicles.  In the aftermath of the implementation of Prop 47 we have seen a sharp increase in shoplifting.  Shoplifting incidents, previously charged as felonious theft or commercial burglary, which could result in prison sentences, have been reduced to misdemeanors and as such the consequence of incarceration is remote.  It could be pointed out that due to Prop 47, the consequence of criminal behavior is more heavily being borne by the crime victim.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s jail leadership has been on the cutting-edge in working closely with the District Attorney’s Office, the Probation Department, and other jail systems statewide in alternative sentencing programs and in developing assessment tools and training programs to address local inmate recidivism pursuant to AB 109 Realignment in 2011.  The Sheriff and local police chiefs across Riverside County maintain close coordination and teamwork in using regional teams, task forces, community partnerships, and multi-disciplinary approaches in confronting our crime problems and the impacts of AB 109 Realignment.

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Countywide Homeless Count Coming January 2016

Staff Reports

 

RIVERSIDE COUNTY – The Riverside County 2016 Point-in-Time Homeless Count and Subpopulation Survey will be conducted countywide on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. Community planning and organizing activities began in September 2015.

The Point-in-Time Homeless Count and Subpopulation Survey will be conducted on the streets, and at residential and non-residential service locations in every city and unincorporated area in Riverside County.

On the day-of-the-count, teams of local volunteers, service providers and others will visit pre-identified locations and use a count/subpopulation survey instrument to record required information collected from each homeless individual encountered. Volunteers including representatives of local government, social service providers, law enforcement, municipal agencies, educational institutions, faith-based organizations, local business, civic groups, neighborhood associations, nonprofit agencies, and current and formerly homeless individuals will be assisting the Riverside County Department of Public Social Services to help identify anyone who is homeless.

In addition to gathering information necessary for the survey, deputies, city, and county staff will work on providing resource and aid information to the homeless. There are additional benefits and programs available to our homeless veterans, whom we will also work on locating and identifying. Though this program is conducted annually, the Norco Sheriff’s Office continues to work with the local homeless population year round, in an attempt to provide them with resources and aid.

The Point-In-Time (PIT) Homeless Count is a count and survey of Riverside County’s sheltered and unsheltered homeless population. Riverside County’s Department of Public Social Services (DPSS), in partnership with Riverside County’s Continuum of Care, is required to conduct this biannual count in late January. The Continuum of Care (CoC) is a network of private- and public sector homeless service providers, designed to promote community-wide planning and the strategic use of resources to address homelessness.

What is the Riverside County Point-in-Time Homeless Count? The Point-in-Time Homeless Count and Subpopulation Survey is a one-day street-based and service-based count and subpopulation survey of sheltered and unsheltered individuals to identify how many people in Riverside County are homeless and their subpopulation characteristics on a given day.

How can I learn more about the Point-in-Time Homeless Count? For more information about the Point-in-Time Homeless Count and Subpopulation Survey please send an email to RivCoPIT@RiversideDPSS.org or call (951) 358-3384.

Riverside County: Fraud Alert!

Don’t be scammed by fake IRS, Jury Duty, Courts, Overdue Bills, or Utility or Service Providers
Courtesy of Riverside County Sheriff’s Department

RIVERSIDE COUNTY-The holidays are approaching and Riverside County Sheriff’s Department would like to remind the public of phone/fraud scams. Please be vigilant and always question unsolicited telephone calls from deceptive businesses, banking institutions, foreign countries, or government agencies where monetary promises or threats are implied or made directly.
Numerous fraud schemes involving mortgage assistance, outstanding tax collection, foreign government assistance, and even to companies promising to return money lost are impacting citizens throughout the county. These scammers almost always request money to be paid up front for illegitimate services, or the threat of arrest, eviction or property seizure is made.
A notable and common scheme involves the caller who claims to be a member of law enforcement, or an employee of the the court system. The victim is told he or she has a warrant for failing to appear for jury duty. The caller demands payment for the warrant via credit card information, or a Green Dot card. The suspect typically remains on the phone with the victim while he or she travels to the store to obtain the Green Dot card. The suspect further instructs the victim not to tell anyone who they are talking with. After obtaining the serial numbers to the Green Dot cards, the money deposited to the card is immediately removed by the suspect.
No Riverside County Court or Sheriff’s Department employee will ever contact the public and ask for financial information or payment in lieu of attending court proceedings, or to make up for failure to appear for jury duty.
For more information regarding other scams visit: http://www.riversidesheriff.org/crime/fraud.asp

Corona: Nightly Closures For E. Grand Blvd.

Courtesy of RCTC

CORONA-The contractor for the 91 Project in Corona began removal of the newly constructed bridge deck over East Grand Boulevard On Oct. 28. The future 91 eastbound bridge may have sustained damage during a bridge lowering operation that injured nine workers on Oct. 9. Atkinson/Walsh Joint Venture (AWJV) has decided to remove the bridge deck and rebuild the bridge to ensure its long-term durability after opening to traffic. Full closures on East Grand Boulevard between Third Street and Joy Street will be required for bridge removal and false work placement from Monday, Nov. 2 to Sunday, Nov. 8, from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. each night. Motorists should expect intermittent nightly closures during the next four weeks as crews replace the bridge deck and work on additional bridges over Grand Boulevard. The contractor will use a “build in place” method to rebuild the bridge deck, rather than the bridge lowering construction that was previously used. This will require reduced clearance under the bridge during construction, and high-profile trucks will not be able to travel under the bridge.
The cost of the demolition and reconstruction will not be borne by taxpayers and the additional work will not cause a delay to the overall 91 Project, which is expected to be completed in 2017.
“This is a wise and prudent decision by the contractor to rebuild the bridge. While it’s in a safe condition now, we need to ensure the long-term durability of the bridge, and the confidence and support of the public,” said Anne Mayer, Executive Director of the Riverside County Transportation Commission.
Of the nine workers hospitalized that night, five have been released. The cause of the accident is currently the subject of three independent investigations including Cal OSHA, Caltrans and KCE Structural Engineers.
Donations are currently being accepted for six of the injured workers, who have signed up for Workers Assistance Funds with the California Transportation Foundation at http://www.transportationfoundation.org/donate.

Riverside Medical Clinic Simplifies Healthcare

Riverside Medical Clinic–Eastvale is located in the Cloverdale Marketplace, at 12742 Limonite Avenue. They can be reached at (951) 683-6370, or visit www.RiversideMedicalClinic.com.

Riverside Medical Clinic–Eastvale is located in the Cloverdale Marketplace, at 12742 Limonite Avenue. They can be reached at (951) 683-6370, or visit http://www.RiversideMedicalClinic.com.

By K.P. Sander

Eastvale – The Riverside Medical Clinic has a long history of providing exemplary health care to patients throughout the Inland Empire.

Housing some of the area’s leading physicians, Riverside Medical Clinic’s five locations provide the latest in medical treatment and technologies to help ensure that the very best in health care is available.

Riverside Medical Clinic’s newest location in the city of Eastvale offers primary medical care for adults and children. With onsite Urgent Care, Imaging, and Laboratory services, this clinic can meet the majority of medical needs. Should a specialist be required, their Brockton Clinic is just minutes away in Riverside.

Physicians specializing in Family Practice, Internal Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology and Pediatrics are part of the Eastvale team, with Urgent Care hours available on the weekends.

In addition, to help facilitate your health care outside of business hours, Riverside Medical Clinic offers a secure, online connection with your doctor’s office so you can schedule appointments, request prescription refills, review your health history, and much more.

Riverside Medical Clinic in Eastvale is open Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Additional hours for Urgent Care and Imaging are available Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. They are located at 12742 Limonite Avenue, in the Cloverdale Marketplace next to Ralph’s Grocery Store. For more information, call (951) 683-6370, or visit http://www.RiversideMedicalClinic.com.

Riverside Medical Clinic…Legendary Care.

2015 Fireworks Safety

Riverside County Sheriff’s Department

 

Riverside County – The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in cooperation with, CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department, Riverside County Code Enforcement and the Riverside County Board of Supervisors would like to remind the members of the public of the dangers of fireworks.

Avoid the Worst – Obey the Law and Put SAFETY First!

Public safety officials from the County of Riverside would like to ensure that all residents and visitors understand that fireworks are illegal in Riverside County; meaning that you may not sell, purchase, transport, store or use fireworks in the County of Riverside.

The cities of Blythe, Coachella, Cathedral City, Desert Hot Springs and Indio are the only cities which allow the sale and use of State Fire Marshal-approved “Safe and Sane” fireworks. Fireworks purchased in these cities shall not be transported, used or possessed outside of the cities in which they were purchased.

ALL fireworks, including sparklers are illegal in Riverside County. All fireworks are illegal because they cause serious injuries and very often, cause fires. Riverside County has very diverse terrain. The vegetation is very dry, and fireworks can easily start a brush fire.

Individuals who cause a wildfire by using illegal fireworks will be held responsible for all suppression costs and could be criminally prosecuted. These costs can run into the millions of dollars.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department law enforcement officers and Riverside County Code Enforcement aggressively enforce Riverside County Ordinance 858, as well as other laws pertaining to the sale, transport, manufacturing, storage and use of illegal fireworks.

In Riverside County protecting the safety of the public is a top priority and we enforce a “zero tolerance” policy with regard to citizens in possession of illegal fireworks. Those caught with illegal fireworks will be subject to fines, citations, arrest and confiscation of all illegal fireworks. We urge you to leave the fireworks to the professionals.

If you would like to report the use or sales of illegal fireworks within the County of Riverside please call 1-800-950-2444, or call one of the non-emergency phone numbers list at the right.

You may also report the use of illegal fireworks via the Fireworks Report (http://www.riversidesheriff.org/fireworks/) web form. This form will be available Wednesday, July 1, 2015, at 6:00 AM until Monday, July 6, 2015 at 6:00 AM.

Food Drive Benefits Riverside & San Bernardino Counties

Local Efforts in Inland Empire Part of Nationwide Goal to Provide 2 Million Meals To Feed Children Over Summer Month

Information courtesy of Kim Kimbriel 

Riverside– Knowing that kids can’t have summer fun on an empty stomach, Caliber Collision is launching its 4th annual Rhythm Restoration Food Drive from June 8th through June 26th to benefit the Second Harvest Food Bank of Riverside & San Bernardino.

Caliber Collision has set up food collection bins at each of its 17 centers in the Inland Empire and urges customers and the public to drop off food items or cash donations at local centers.

The local Caliber locations are part of a company-wide national food drive that last year provided more than one million meals for children in need of food.  The annual food drive is a grassroots, volunteer effort by Caliber teammates who have challenged each other to break 2014’s record and have set a nationwide goal of 2 million meals this year for at-risk children and families.

According to a recent report by Feeding America, despite the economic recovery, 1 in 5 children in the U.S. continue to struggle with hunger.  Chronic illness is reported to be higher among children living in food-insecure households and the lack of adequate nutrition can literally change the structure of a child’s brain and affect learning.

“For too many children, no school means no lunch,” said Steve Grimshaw, Caliber Collision’s Chief Executive Officer.  “Local food banks need extra help during the summer to ensure that those in need don’t go hungry. We are committed to doubling our efforts this year to restore the rhythm of regular meals to children in each of the communities that Caliber serves.”

In addition to the food items, Caliber Collision has also committed to a corporate matching contribution for local food banks based on the amount collected by Caliber teammates locally.

Non-perishable food items or cash donations can be dropped off at any of the Caliber Collision locations listed below. The food bank cannot accept glass or open containers, perishable or homemade items.

CATHEDRAL CITY

68-945 Perez Rd., No. 7

Cathedral City, CA 92234

760.328.5334

CHINO VALLEY

14622 Ramona Ave.

Chino, CA 91710

909.597.2203

CITY OF INDUSTRY

15120 E. Valley Blvd.

City of Industry, CA 91746

626.968.6430

CLAREMONT

2542 N. Towne Ave.

Pomona, CA 91767

909.482.4343

COVINA

433 E. San Bernardino Rd.

Covina, CA 91723

626.915.4953

HESPERIA

11182 “I” Ave.

Hesperia, CA 92345

760.949.6269

INDIO

82-279 Ave. 44

Indio, CA 92201

760.347.5866

NORCO

2000 S. Four Wheel Dr.

Norco, CA 92860

951.736.1398

ONTARIO

200 S. Wineville Ave.

Ontario, CA 91761

909.937.0132

 

RANCHO CUCAMONGA

9490 9th St.

Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730

909.941.3466

REDLANDS

450 Nevada St.

Redlands, CA 92373

909.793.3442

RIALTO

421 W. Rialto Ave.

Rialto, CA 92376

909.874.4470

RIVERSIDE

6634 Indiana Ave.

Riverside, CA 92506

951.683.6734

SAN BERNARDINO

1197 E. 3rd St.

San Bernardino, CA 92410

909.889.2121

SOUTH EL MONTE

1841 Tyler Ave.

South El Monte, CA 91733

626.442.8776

UPLAND

2110 Aviation Dr.

Upland, CA 91786

909.243.7470

WALNUT

20601 E. Valley Blvd.

Walnut, CA 91789

909.598.1113

 

About Caliber Collision Centers

Caliber Collision Centers is one of the largest collision repair companies in America with 297 I-CAR Gold Class Professional certified collision repair centers across 13 states. Caliber is consistently ranked among the highest customer satisfaction scores in the industry and backs all repair work with a written, lifetime warranty available at any of its 297 repair centers.  For more information about Caliber Collision, please visit our website at www.calibercollision.com and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Former Moreno Valley Councilman Sentenced

Five years in federal prison for taking $2.3 million cash bribe

 

Staff Reports

Riverside – In a case stemming from what is believed to be the largest bribe ever accepted by a public official in an undercover operation, a former member of the Moreno Valley City Council was sentenced on Mon., June 1, to 60 months in federal prison for taking a $2.36 million cash bribe from an undercover operative posing as a real estate broker.

According to the United States Attorney’s Office, Marcelo Co, 64, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge, Jesus G. Bernal. Co pleaded guilty last year to one bribery count and one count of filing a false corporate tax return.

The case against Co was the result of an investigation by the Inland Regional Corruption Task Force, which is comprised of prosecutors, agents and investigators from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, IRS Criminal Investigation, Riverside County District Attorney’s Office and the United States Attorney’s Office.

Co was elected to the Moreno Valley City Council in November 2010 and resigned from his seat in August 2013 after being charged in state court in an unrelated case. Court documents filed in the federal case outline a bribery scheme in which Co told a businessman – and an undercover FBI operative posing as a real estate broker – that he would control a voting majority of the Moreno Valley City Council and would be able to guarantee land use decisions that would benefit the businessman and the land broker.  Co also promised to always vote in favor of land use decisions that would benefit the real estate broker.

Co solicited campaign donations from the FBI undercover operative and the businessman, who was cooperating with the investigation. Co eventually received payments of $5,000 and $10,000 that he said were to be used to finance the campaigns of individuals who would vote with him on land use issues.

In the fall of 2012, Co met with the undercover operative to discuss a multimillion dollar sale of a 30-acre parcel that he owned. Co told the real estate broker that once he had control of the City Council, he could change the zoning of the property and the land value would dramatically increase. With the City Council election in November 2012, Co told the undercover investigator that he had the votes to alter the zoning and increase the value of his 30-acre parcel, which had been appraised at $710,000. Co proposed that the undercover operative purchase the property for $5.36 million, which would include a cash payment of $2.36 million.

At a meeting on Jan. 30, 2013, Co agreed to sell the property for $5.36 million, but that the publicly filed documents would reflect a sale price of only $3 million. At this meeting, Co accepted $2.36 million in cash.

The tax charge concerns a federal Corporation Income Tax Return (Form 1120) that Co filed for his company, Qwik Pack Systems, for tax year 2010. In that filing with the IRS, Co failed to report well over $100,000 in income. This tax charge is not related to the bribery scheme.

Co must surrender himself to authorities on October 30 to begin serving his sentence.

Lanes on 91 in Corona to Narrow in Width to 10.5 Feet

Riverside County Transportation Commission

Riverside County – As part of the Riverside County Transportation Commission’s (RCTC) 91 Project, westbound and eastbound lanes on the 91 between the 71 and Main Street in Corona will be narrowed in width, starting June 1.

Dubbed the “91 Corona Squeeze,” the narrower lanes will continue for about 10 months to allow crews to widen the roadway safely and efficiently behind K-rail. The four inside lanes will be restriped to 10.5 feet in width, and the outside or “slow lane” will be 12 feet wide.

Restriping will occur at night as follows:

• Westbound 91: June 1-4 from 8 p.m. to 4:30 a.m.; June 5 from 10 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.; and June 6 from 11 p.m. to 8 a.m.

• Eastbound 91: June 1-4 from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.; June 5 from 11:30 p.m. to 7:30 a.m.; and June 6 from 11:59 p.m. to 8:30 a.m.

Following the restriping, crews will place K-rail along the outside lane in one-mile segments. This will eliminate the shoulder within these segments. In areas where there is no K-rail, there will be a shoulder for emergency use. Freeway Service Patrol assistance will be increased during the “91 Corona Squeeze.”

Drivers are reminded to:

• Follow the 55 MPH speed limit and note that fines are doubled in construction zones

• Allow extra travel time and be alert to changing conditions

• Watch for signs about upcoming narrower lanes

• Be aware of nearby motorcycle riders; motorcyclists should be extremely cautious, particularly if splitting lanes

• Adjust travel plans to off-peak hours, if possible, or use alternate routes

• Carpool or use public transit, when feasible

Led by RCTC, the 91 Project is adding regular lanes, tolled express lanes, auxiliary lanes and direct express connectors from the northbound 15 to the westbound 91 and from the eastbound 91 to the southbound 15. Improvements to interchanges, ramps, lanes and surface streets also will be made along the 91 between the Riverside County/Orange County Line in Corona and Pierce Street in Riverside. The new lanes are expected to open in 2017.

Corona Bank Robber Gets Prison

Driver and accomplice gets State Prison sentence

Photo Courtesy: Corona PD Patricia Cheree Smith, 26

Photo Courtesy: Corona PD
Patricia Cheree Smith, 26

By Claire Lewis

Riverside  – On Feb. 4, Paul Alfred Eugene Johnson, 59, and Patricia Cheree Smith, 26, both of Hemet, robbed the Pacific Premier Bank located at 102 E. Sixth Street in Corona.  Johnson threatened bank employees at gunpoint, and fled the scene with a large sum of money in a vehicle driven by Smith.

According to the Corona Police Department, Officers quickly intervened and located the vehicle, and a chase ensued into the city of Chino.  As Officers attempted a high risk enforcement stop, the vehicle stopped briefly nearly San Antonio and Bickmore avenues and the driver emerged.  That’s when things went from bad to worse.

The pursuit then continued with Johnson at the wheel.  He led Police to the 71 Freeway where he crashed off the side of the expressway.  As he exited the vehicle, he was struck multiple times by Police gunfire.  Johnson was pronounced dead at the scene.

As Smith exited the vehicle in Chino, she was immediately contacted by Police where she declared she was the victim of a hijacking at the scene of the robbery by a man with a gun.  Further investigation by Corona Police Detectives revealed that Smith was an accomplice in the bank robbery.

On May 18, Smith appeared in Riverside Superior Court.  She pleaded guilty on three counts of armed robbery.  With three strikes, Smith was sentenced to State Prison.