The incident occurred when officers conducted a traffic stop on a motorcyclist who was seen activating emergency lights and committing multiple vehicle code violations.

The rider, identified as Marshal Goodnight, was found wearing a uniform resembling that of a local law enforcement agency.

He was also equipped with a duty belt and what appeared to be a Glock-style pistol.

For officer safety, Goodnight was detained and disarmed.

A search revealed that Goodnight was carrying two taser electronic control devices, an ASP baton, and a container of OC Spray. Both electronic weapons were tested and found to be operational.

Officers confirmed that Goodnight is a convicted felon, legally prohibited from possessing firearms or related weapons, and not licensed to provide security services through California’s Bureau of Security and Investigative Services.

Goodnight was arrested and booked on several charges, including impersonating a law enforcement officer, possession of a stun gun, possession of tear gas, and possession of a dangerous weapon.

“We are committed to protecting our community and ensuring that law enforcement authority is never misrepresented,” said the Hemet Police Department.

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Timmy Lee Johnson Jr., 25, of Lancaster, on Monday admitted a charge of felony evading resulting in a fatality, along with a sentence-enhancing great bodily injury allegation and a prior criminal strike under a plea agreement with the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office.

In exchange for Johnson’s admissions, prosecutors dropped three related charges against him, including a vehicular manslaughter count.

During a hearing at the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta, Superior Court Judge Louis Hanoian certified the terms of the plea deal and imposed the sentence stipulated by the prosecution and defense.

According to the CHP, shortly after 4 a.m. on April 15, 2023, a CHP unit patrolling southbound I-15, just north of Magnolia Avenue, in Corona spotted Johnson’s Jeep Compass without license plates and initiated a traffic stop on the freeway.

Officer Javier Navarro said the defendant failed to yield and instead stepped on the accelerator, continuing southbound.

“During the pursuit, the Jeep reached speeds up to 127 mph, exiting and re-entering the freeway several times,” Navarro said.

He said additional patrol units joined the pursuit, following Johnson as he raced into Murrieta.

“The driver exited southbound I-15 at California Oaks Road, where he failed to negotiate a curve in the roadway and overturned,” the CHP spokesman said.

Two passengers, 22-year-old Trayvon Ford of Los Angeles and another man whose identity was not disclosed, were ejected from the SUV and hurled onto the roadway, according to Navarro.

Johnson ran away as CHP officers converged on the location. He was apprehended within a few minutes without further incident.

Ford and the other party ejected onto California Oaks were taken to Inland Valley Medical Center in Wildomar, where Ford died less than an hour later. The other victim suffered major injuries from which he ultimately recovered.

Navarro said Johnson exhibited signs of being under the influence of controlled substances, which toxicology tests confirmed. The defendant was hospitalized for minor injuries but booked into jail a couple days later.

According to court records, Johnson had a prior felony conviction in another jurisdiction that wasn’t specified.

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File # GE240160003

Details:

In December 2023, members of the Coachella Valley Violent Crime Gang Task Force (GTF) received information about a prior convicted felon in possession of several firearms. GTF members conducted follow-up investigation and identified the subject as 41-year-old Leroy Melgoza from Desert Hot Springs.

On January 16, 2024, at 4:15 p.m., GTF members located and arrested Melgoza in the area of Monterey Avenue and Dinah Shore Drive, Rancho Mirage. A subsequent search warrant was conducted at Melgoza’s residence in the 15500 block of Bubbling Wells Road, Desert Hot Springs, that resulted in the recovery of two firearms and ammunition.

Leroy Melgoza was ultimately transported to the John Benoit Detention Center in Indio and booked for being a prior convicted felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. 

The Coachella Valley Violent Crime Gang Task Force is a multi-agency task force and is committed to creating safe and secure neighborhoods free of violent crime and gang activity. If you have any information about this crime, please contact Gang Task Force member Deputy Chavez at (760) 836-1600. If you have non-emergency information regarding gang activity, please use our online Gang Task Force Tip Form or call 951-922-7601. If you have information regarding criminal activity and wish to be anonymous, please call Valley Crimestoppers at (760)341-7867.

For media inquiries regarding this incident, please contact the Media Information Bureau.

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The post Convicted Felon Arrested for Weapon Related Charges appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

File # GE232920001

Details:

In October 2023, members of the Coachella Valley Violent Crime Gang Task Force received an anonymous tip of a convicted felon manufacturing firearms. Task Force members assumed the investigation and were able to identify a prior convicted felon, Eric Ahrens, a 36-year-old resident of Desert Hot Springs, as the individual manufacturing firearms.

On November 3, 2023, Gang Task Force members located and arrested Ahrens in the 66500 Block of Ironwood Drive, Desert Hot Springs, and a search warrant was served at Ahrens’s residence. During the service of the search warrant, Gang Task Force members located several firearms, including a functional firearm and several completed lower receivers manufactured by a 3D printer. The 3D printer was also collected along with ammunition for these firearms.

Ahrens was ultimately transported and booked at the John Benoit Detention Center in Indio for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, ammunition, and manufacturing undetectable firearms.

The Coachella Valley Violent Crime Gang Task Force is committed to creating safe and secure neighborhoods free of violent crime and gang activity. If you have any information about this crime, please contact Gang Task Force member Deputy Piscatella at (760)836-1600. If you have non-emergency information regarding gang activity, please use our online Gang Task Force Tip Form or call 951-922-7601. If you have information regarding criminal activity and wish to be anonymous, please call Valley Crimestoppers at (760)341-7867.

For media inquiries regarding this incident, please contact the Media Information Bureau.

Find your latest news here at the Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle

The post Convicted Felon Arrested for Manufacturing Firearms appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

File # GE222770001

Details:

On Tuesday, October 4, 2022, at 5:30 PM, the Coachella Valley Violent Crime Gang Task Force (CVVCGTF) conducted a probation compliance search at a residence located near the 30000 block of Avenida Juarez in Cathedral City. During the search, Gang Task Force officers located a loaded .40 caliber semi-automatic Glock handgun. As a result, Gang Task Force officers arrested convicted felon and documented criminal street gang member, Hector Diaz, a 19-year-old resident of Cathedral City for Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Felon in Possession of Ammunition, Gang Member in Possession of a Firearm, Violation of Probation, and Child Endangerment. Diaz was subsequently booked at the John Benoit Detention Center.

The Coachella Valley Violent Crime Gang Task Force is committed to creating safe and secure neighborhoods free of violent crime and gang activity. If you have any information about this crime, please contact CVVCGTF Officer Coddington at 760- 836-1600. If you have non-emergency information regarding gang activity, please use our online Gang Task Force Tip Form or call 951-922-7601.

For media inquiries regarding this incident please contact the Media Information Bureau.

Find your latest news here at the Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle

The post Convicted Felon and Documented Gang Member Arrested with Loaded Firearm appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.