File # GE232210002

Details:

On Wednesday, August 9, 2023, at 2:45 P.M. the Coachella Valley Violent Crime Gang Task Force, with the assistance of La Quinta Special Enforcement Team and Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Aviation, served a search warrant at a residence located in the 52000 block of Calle Leandro in Coachella and at a residence in the 81000 block of Avenue 46 in Indio.  During the service of the search warrants Gang Task Force Officers located several illegally possessed firearms, including 7 rifles and 10 handguns. Gang Task Force Officers determined that one of the rifles was previously reported stolen. Additionally, Gang Task Force Officers located multiple gamecocks and items related to cockfighting such as gaffs, the razor-sharp steel blades used to attach to a gamecocks’ legs during a cockfight. Riverside County Animal Control subsequently responded and took possession of the gamecocks that were located during the search warrant.

Gang Task Force arrested convicted felon and documented criminal street gang member, Jorge Albert Casillas Flores, 30-year-old of Coachella for Felon in Possession of Firearms, Felon in Possession of Ammunition, Gang Member with a Firearm, Animal Cruelty, and Cockfighting. Also arrested was documented criminal street gang member, Antonio De Jesus Casillas Flores, 27-year-old of Indio for Providing Firearms to a Convicted Felon, Gang Member with a Firearm, Possession of a Stolen Firearm, Animal Cruelty, and Cockfighting. Both subjects were booked at John Benoit Detention Center in Indio.

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 member Deputy J. 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.

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

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File # GE231380001, GE231380003, GE231380004

Details:

On Thursday, May 18, 2023, at 6:00 a.m. the Coachella Valley Violent Crime Gang Task Force with the assistance of Riverside County Sheriff’s Office Special Enforcement Bureau, United States Border Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC), Riverside County Gang Task Force Region 3, Region 4 and Region 7, Riverside County Sheriff’s Thermal Station Special Investigations Unit, La Quinta Special Enforcement Team, California Highway Patrol K9 Team and Riverside County PACT, served search warrants at three residences in the eastern Coachella Valley. Task Force Officers executed search warrants at residences located in the 84000 block of Lingayan Avenue in the unincorporated community of Indio, the 80000 block of Avenue 46 in the city of Indio and the 80000 block of Columbia Avenue in the city of Indio. During the service of the search warrants Gang Task Force Officers located four illegally possessed firearms including a loaded non-serialized 9mm semi-auto handgun with extended magazine, a loaded .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun with extended magazine, a .44 caliber revolver style pistol, and a loaded 9mm semi-automatic rifle. The following subjects were arrested during the operation:

• Gustavo Miranda Madera, 23 of Indio for possession of unregistered firearm and possession of non-serialized firearm
• Julian Perez Morgan, 22 of Indio for felon in possession of ammunition
• Diego Perez Morgan, 18 of Indio for possession of unregistered loaded firearm, gang member with a firearm and gang member with ammunition
• Damion Albert Perez, 25 of Indio for gang member with a firearm and gang member with ammunition
• Albert Perez, 53 of Indio for possession of unregistered Firearm
• All of the above listed subjects were subsequently booked at the John Benoit Detention Center in Indio.

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 member Deputy J. Chavez or 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.

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File # GE230800003

Details:

On Tuesday, March 21, 2023, at 6:45 P.M., the Coachella Valley Violent Crime Gang Task Force, with the assistance of the Palm Desert Special Enforcement Team, conducted an operation that resulted in the arrest of two documented criminal street gang members for firearms-related offenses. During the operation Gang Task Force Officers arrested Cesar Martinez, 21, of Indio, during a vehicle stop as Martinez was driving onto the College of the Desert campus. Martinez was found to be in possession of a loaded 9mm pistol with a full-auto switch and a 33-round extended magazine. Gang Task Force Officers subsequently served a search warrant at a residence located in the 46000 block of Jackson Street in Indio, where they arrested a 17-year-old juvenile who was found to be in possession of a loaded 9mm pistol with a 33-round extended magazine. Additionally, the juvenile was determined to be on active probation for a previous firearm offense.

Martinez was charged with Possession of a Machine Gun and Carrying a Loaded Firearm. He was booked at John Benoit Detention Center in Indio. The 17-year-old juvenile was charged with Felon in Possession of a Firearm and booked at Juvenile Hall in Indio.

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

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

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File # GE230250001

Details:

On Wednesday, January 25, 2023, at 3:00 P.M. the Coachella Valley Violent Crime Gang Task Force conducted an operation that resulted in the arrest of documented criminal street gang members for a variety of charges to include illegal possession of firearms and narcotics. During the operation Gang Task Force Officers attempted to conduct a vehicle stop on an SUV occupied by four suspects near the 43000 block of Clinton Street in Indio. The vehicle failed to stop before crashing into a tree a short distance away. The suspects fled the vehicle on foot and two of the suspects were apprehended by Gang Task Force Officers. A semi-automatic pistol with a 33-round extended magazine was dropped at the scene by one of the fleeing suspects and recovered by Gang Task Force Officers.

Gang Task Force Officers identified a residence in the same area of the 43000 block of Clinton Street directly connected to the suspects. With the assistance of Riverside County Sheriff’s Department SWAT, a search warrant was served at the residence. During the service of the search warrant, Gang Task Force Officers located a short barrel AR-15 style rifle with multiple 30-round magazines. Also located was a 1911 .45 caliber pistol. Suspected methamphetamine and US currency was located inside the residence as well.

Gang Task Force Officers arrested Fernando Guadalupe Meza, 19 of Indio for Possession of Methamphetamine for Sales, Possession of a Short Barrel Rifle, Possession of Narcotics with a Loaded Firearm and Gang Member with a Firearm. A 17-year-old male juvenile was arrested for Gang Member with a Firearm, and Juvenile in Possession of Ammunition. Another 17-year-old male juvenile was arrested for Juvenile in Possession of Ammunition. Meza was subsequently booked at John Benoit Detention Center in Indio and the two juveniles were booked at Juvenile Hall in Indio.

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 member Officer Coddington or Deputy Sanchez 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.

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File # GS223500001

Details:

On Friday, December 16, 2022, around 9:30 AM, The Murrieta/Temecula Regional Gang Task Force, with the assistance of security personnel from the Pechanga Hotel and Casino, contacted and arrested documented street gang members in the 400 block of Pechanga Parkway in Temecula. Both gang members, Joseph Pitroliere and Rodrigo Dominguez, were on active CDC parole. During the course of the arrest and a search incident to their parole terms, Task Force Officers located two loaded firearms, approximately 80 grams of suspected methamphetamine, and blue “M-30” (suspected Fentanyl) pills. One of the firearms was stolen from the city of San Jacinto in August of 2019 and the other was a non-serialized firearm. Also arrested during the course of the investigation, were Yolanda Aguilar, a 29-year-old resident of San Jacinto and Jessuly Hernandez, a 27-year-old resident of San Jacinto, both for theft related charges.

If you have any information related to illegal activity you can contact Gang Task Force Officer Deputy T. Tully at 951-461-6344 and/or if you have information related to gang or illegal weapon related activity in your neighborhood, you can contact Sergeant T. Abbate of the Murrieta-Temecula Regional Gang Task Force at 951-461-6367.

You may also provide information anonymously through the Riverside County Gang Task Force website at Gang Task Force Tip Form.  The Riverside County Gang Task Force is a collaborative effort of several law enforcement agencies with the goal of combating criminal street gangs.  The Murrieta-Temecula Regional Gang Task Force is one of 6 teams that compose the Riverside County Regional Gang Task Force.

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

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File # C221650020

Details:

On June 14, 2022, at 10:00 A.M., members of the Coachella Community Action Team (CCAT), with the assistance of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team, served a search warrant at a residence located in the 80-300 block of Paseo Tesoro in the city of Indio. The search warrant stemmed from a weapons investigation CCAT was conducting. During a search of the residence, a .40 caliber handgun was located and seized. The firearm was found to have the serial number removed. Jaime Mejia, a 24 year-old resident of Indio, was arrested for a $1,000,000.00 felony warrant for illegal possession of firearms. Nicholas Mejia, a 21 year-old resident of Indio, was arrested for a felony accessory warrant. Nicholas was also booked for possession of an unregistered firearm, possession of a high-capacity magazine, and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. Both suspects were documented criminal street gang members and booked at the John Benoit Detention Center in the city of Indio.

Anyone with any information regarding this incident is urged to contact Deputy Molina 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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File # Y221450034

Details:

On May 25, 2022, at 5:00 P.M., patrol deputies assigned to the city of Coachella and the Coachella Community Action Team (CCAT), were conducting proactive patrol throughout the city Coachella. Deputies conducted a traffic enforcement stop at Douma Street and Damascus Avenue. When the occupants of the vehicle failed to comply with deputies’ commands, deputies transitioned to a high risk stop. The occupants were detained and identified as documented criminal street gang members Rene Moran, 23 of Indio, Jaime Mejia, 23 of Indio, and Raider Chavez, 18 of Indio. Moran was found to be on active CDCR (California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation) Parole with search terms. A search of the vehicle was conducted a three loaded 9mm handguns were located and seized. All three subjects were placed under arrest for the following charges:

Rene Moran

• Being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm
• Being a convicted felon in possession of ammunition
• Possession of a concealed firearm
• Possession of an unregistered firearm
• Providing a false name to a Peace Officer
• Violation of CDCR Parole

Jaime Mejia

• Being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm
• Being a convicted felon in possession of ammunition
• Possession of a concealed firearm
• Possession of an unregistered firearm

Raider Chavez

• Possession of a concealed firearm
• Possession of an unregistered firearm

All three subjects were booked at the John Benoit Detention Center in the city of Indio.

Anyone with any information regarding this incident is urged to contact Deputy Molina 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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File # 2204B1150

Details:

On Saturday, April 9, 2022, approximately 4:30 PM, Region 2 Gang Task Force Officers conducted a probation compliance check at a residence located in the 700 block of Michigan Ave. in the city of Beaumont. During the compliance check Gang Task Force Officers located two loaded semi-automatic handguns, an illegal switchblade, and illegal narcotics. They arrested two convicted felons and documented criminal street gang members, Marco Valenzuela, 18-years-old of Beaumont and Alexander Ramirez, 18-years-old of Beaumont.

Valenzuela and Ramirez were booked at Larry Smith Correctional Facility for a combination of the following charges:

• Felon in possession of a firearm
• Felon in possession of ammunition
• Possession of a firearm with a controlled substance
• Possession of a switchblade
• Probation violations

The Riverside County Gang Task Force is a collaborative effort of several law enforcement agencies with the goal of combating criminal street gangs. The San Gorgonio Special Operations Regional Gang Task Force is one of six teams which compose the Riverside County Regional Gang Task Force. The San Gorgonio Special Operations Gang Task Force is staffed with members from the Banning Police Department, Beaumont Police Department and Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

Anyone with information related to this case is encouraged to contact Detective Aidan Christopherson with the Riverside County Regional Gang Task force by calling (951) 766-2553.

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

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File # GE220960001

Details:

On Thursday, April 6, 2022, at 5:00 P.M. the Coachella Valley Violent Crime Gang Task Force served a search warrant at a residence located in the 66000 block of 6 Street in Desert Hot Springs. During the service of the search warrant Gang Task Force Officers located a 12-gauge shotgun, .300 caliber rifle, multiple rounds of ammunition, 5 sets of body armor and two collapsible batons.

They arrested convicted felon and documented criminal street gang member, Ronald Solarzano, a 42-year-old resident of Desert Hot Springs for Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Felon in Possession of Ammunition, Felon in Possession of Body Armor and Possession of Collapsible Batons. Also arrested was convicted felon and documented criminal street gang member, Sandra Ponce, a 58-year-old resident of Desert Hot Springs. Ponce was arrested for Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Felon in Possession of Ammunition.

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 member 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.

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Attorney Richard Carnero, Deputy Public Defender Solely Diallo, and Attorney A.C. Jones are the defense lawyers for the three men accused of the 2017 crime, Lonzo Lee Ford, Jevante Terrell Stewart and Dameontae Wright Patterson

Former Deputy Michael Meija, now retired, was a detective with the Riverside Sheriff’s Department. While a station-level detective, Deputy Meija was primarily assigned to sex crimes and child abuse.

Deputy Meija explained he had been at home off-duty when he received a call about a shooting and went to the scene. After the call, Deputy Meija recalled going to the station where he met with the lead homicide investigator.

According to Meija, he walked through the scene with the other detective who showed him where the evidence remained, including projectiles and casings.

Deputy Meija reported that he and the other investigator continued to look over the crime scene while they pointed out all discernible evidence. The technician at the scene would then, according to Deputy Meija, mark items they discovered or noted as evidence.

When questioned by the defense about the evidence system, Deputy Meija noted that evidence that could be photographed was numbered and anything that could be taken was marked by a letter.

One by one, the attorney went through casing evidence and photograph evidence, questioning exactly what item was what, as examined by Deputy Meija. The deputy observed three 380 caliber casings and one that belonged to a 45 caliber that the attorney brought forward as evidence.

Then, the attorney presented photo evidence to Deputy Meija, asking what he examined in the image. Deputy Meija reported seeing an “entry point to the screen door by a bullet” and copper inside of the impression. When presented with evidence “32” the deputy stated that he saw the letter B that marked an impact point where the bullet hit the wall.

Deputy Meija was then asked about his prior experience with bullets and strikes. The defense attorney asked, “How many strikes have you seen?” to which Deputy Meija responded, “Hundreds.” The deputy then proceeded to say that not all bullets travel through some things, that some bullets will not even go through drywall.

When presented with evidence “34” Deputy Meija stated that the image consisted of the front of the house and a hole with the copper jacketing still inside. Evidence “36” was noted by Meija as being an image of the hole from the interior of the house.

Deputy Meija, after being questioned by the defense, explained the steps of processing evidence. As maintained by Deputy Meija, the technician gives a list of items and then books them into evidence. They don’t have a physical person retrieving evidence, rather they place all evidence into lockers that, once closed, can only be opened from the other side.

When questioned about the projectile that struck the victim, Deputy Meija responded saying that the projectile was of concern because it could not be located. The technician and Deputy Meija, according to his testimony, spent extra time looking for the projectile to no avail. The attorney then asked, “At some point during the investigation did you know if the projectile had entered the victim?” to which the deputy responded, “I didn’t know.” Then the attorney asked, “Was it possible the projectile was still in the victim?” which Deputy Meija said, “Very possible.”

The attorney was then finished with Deputy Meija’s testimony and called Deputy Stephen Enoch to the stand. Deputy Enoch currently is a sworn police officer, who has served 16 years thus far.

The defense questioned Deputy Enoch about an assault he was called to, the day before the trio allegedly committed homicide.

On Sept. 15, 2017, Deputy Enoch reported being dispatched to a call regarding an assault with a weapon. Once arrived on the scene, the deputy made contact with a Hemet police officer. Deputy Enoch was then met by a mother, who directed the deputy to her son and another individual at the crime scene.

Deputy Enoch reported being told that the vehicle in which the son and the other individual were in was being shot at while they were inside.

The vehicle had been struck four times, including in the windshield and the front near the vehicle’s lights. Deputy Enoch asserted that he found only one projectile and that was submitted into evidence and the car was then photographed as evidence as well.

When asked by the attorney about any witnesses to the crime, Deputy Enoch reported reaching out to neighbors or asking if anyone witnessed the crime to no avail. “No one wanted to be a witness,” reported Deputy Enoch.

The attorney then presented the deputy with an image, a booking photograph of the son who reported being shot at, as noted by the deputy. Enoch reported it was the male at the scene and that he and his mother were cooperative at the time of the crime and gave him a basic statement.

The trial resumed on Tuesday, November 30. No further news.

Natalia Ruvalcaba | Contributed

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