On December 21st, 2020, at 7:00 A.M., deputies assigned to the Southern Coachella Valley Community Service District Team (SCVCSDT), with the assistance of the Coachella Community Action Team (CCAT) and La Quinta Special Enforcement Team (SET), served a search warrant in the 65300 block of Van Buren Street in the unincorporated area of Thermal. The search warrant stemmed from an agricultural theft deputies were investigating.
During the search warrant service, an illegal marijuana grow was discovered. An additional search warrant was authored and served on the marijuana grow. During the service, 1,321 marijuana plants were eradicated with a total weight of 2,080 pounds. An AK-47 rifle and a 9mm handgun were seized during the warrant. Arrested for marijuana cultivation, felon in possession of a firearm, felon in possession of ammunition, and possession of an assault weapon was Javier Diaz Perez, 36 y/o of Mecca. Perez was booked at the John Benoit Detention Center (JBDC) in the city of Indio.
Javier Diaz
Anyone with any information regarding this incident is urged to contact Deputy Perez or Corporal Quezada with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department at (760)863-8990, or Crime Stoppers at (760)341-STOP (7867).
For media inquiries regarding this incident please contact the Media Information Bureau.
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