The report, obtained through the city’s public records system, details allegations against former senior code enforcement officers Mark Ilagan and Mark Hernandez. Investigators found evidence suggesting the pair may have engaged in improper conduct ranging from unauthorized property seizures and unlawful entry onto private property to confrontational encounters with vendors and residents.

    According to the investigation, much of the alleged misconduct appeared to be directed toward individuals who were Latino or Asian, did not primarily speak English, or may have lacked legal immigration status. The report noted that such individuals are often less likely to report mistreatment due to fears of retaliation or concerns about interacting with government agencies.

    Investigators also criticized city supervisors for failing to adequately address complaints raised by a subordinate who repeatedly questioned the officers’ actions. The employee later alleged she experienced retaliation after bringing concerns forward through official channels.

    The report concluded that the conduct of the officers and their supervisors exposed Riverside to significant legal liability while undermining public trust in city government.

    None of the individuals named in the investigation remain employed by the City of Riverside. Hernandez could not be reached for comment. Ilagan, who now works for the City of Chino, denied the allegations. Former Community and Economic Development Director Jennifer Lilley told the Los Angeles Times that portions of the report lacked context and contained inaccuracies.

    Several current and former employees described Ilagan and Hernandez as working closely together and often responding to calls as a team. Witnesses told investigators the pair frequently adopted tactics that blurred the line between code enforcement and law enforcement.

    Unlike police officers, code enforcement personnel do not have arrest powers, cannot carry firearms, and generally have limited authority to seize property. However, investigators found evidence that the two officers routinely pursued street vendors on foot, blocked vehicles from leaving, and confiscated merchandise and equipment beyond what regulations permitted.

    The report describes what investigators called a long-running pattern of unauthorized property seizures. Vendors allegedly had merchandise taken without receiving receipts, making it nearly impossible to recover their belongings. Several employees stated that confiscated items were stored in City Hall offices and included products commonly sold by vendors such as flowers, toys, hats, and novelty items.

    Investigators also documented multiple incidents involving physical confrontations. During Riverside’s Festival of Lights celebration in 2023, officers reportedly attempted to seize a vendor’s cart while the owners were briefly away making a sale. When the couple returned, a confrontation followed that drew a crowd and eventually required police intervention.

    In another incident during Fourth of July enforcement operations in 2024, a dispute involving a taco vendor escalated into a physical struggle. Witnesses alleged one officer used a wrist-lock technique during the confrontation before police arrived at the scene.

    The report further alleges that the officers sometimes entered or facilitated entry into properties under questionable circumstances. In one case, officers reportedly requested police assistance to force entry into a residence believed to be occupied despite ongoing probate and eviction proceedings. Another incident involved allegations that officers misrepresented the status of properties to law enforcement in order to have residents removed.

    Investigators concluded that the officers repeatedly sought to project the image and authority of sworn police officers. The report notes they favored tactical-style gear, advocated for police-style identification, and pushed for equipment that would make code enforcement officers appear more like law enforcement personnel.

    Some city employees expressed concern that such efforts increased risks for both officers and the public. The investigator warned that encouraging code enforcement staff to appear police-like could create confusion and expose the city to significant liability.

    The investigation also examined workplace culture within the department. Several findings pointed to a hostile work environment, including allegations of inappropriate behavior, retaliation against employees who raised concerns, and failures by supervisors to properly investigate complaints.

    A former code enforcement officer who reported the alleged misconduct told investigators she repeatedly warned management about what she believed were unlawful actions involving vendors and residents. According to the report, her concerns were largely dismissed, and after escalating her complaints, she was later identified as the source and publicly escorted from City Hall shortly before leaving her position.

    The investigator concluded that the city’s response to the complaints sent a troubling message to other employees and may have discouraged future reporting of misconduct.

    The report was submitted to city officials in August 2025. It remains unclear what actions, if any, were taken afterward. City leaders declined to discuss personnel matters when contacted by the Los Angeles Times.

    The Los Angeles Times first reported on the investigative findings after obtaining the report through Riverside’s public records portal.

Credit: Original reporting and source material from the Los Angeles Times.

The post Report Alleges Years of Vendor Harassment in Riverside appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

The claim, submitted April 29, alleges that corrections deputy Yash Patel, a 30-year-old civilian employee with the Sheriff’s Department, accessed Summer Johnson’s confidential information from a jail database at the Robert Presley Detention Center on March 5. The filing contends that the information was used for personal reasons unrelated to any legitimate law enforcement duties.

Johnson’s attorney, Jamal Tooson, said his client received multiple calls from a blocked number the following day, beginning early in the morning and continuing into the afternoon. When she answered, the caller identified himself as Patel and told her he had seen her at the jail during her release, adding that he wanted to take a chance and reach out.

According to Tooson, Johnson became increasingly concerned when Patel referenced details about her personal life, including her residence and the vehicle she drives.

The claim states that Johnson has experienced significant emotional distress following the interaction, citing fear, anxiety and the imbalance of power tied to Patel’s position within the Sheriff’s Department. She remains worried about possible retaliation, her attorney said.

Patel has been placed on paid administrative leave while the department conducts an internal investigation. Officials declined to comment further, citing the ongoing inquiry and potential litigation.

Separate from Johnson’s allegations, Patel was arrested in Jurupa Valley one day after the alleged contact, though authorities said the arrest was tied to a different incident. He was booked on suspicion of sexual battery and false imprisonment while off duty, posted bail, and was released the next day.

Sheriff Chad Bianco later confirmed that the arrest involved allegations that Patel contacted another woman following her release from custody. He said investigators are reviewing whether there have been additional similar cases.

“We are still investigating,” Bianco said in a statement, noting that authorities have spoken with multiple individuals Patel may have contacted. At this stage, he said, no broader criminal conduct involving other employees has been confirmed.

Bianco also pushed back on claims circulating online that suggested multiple deputies were involved in coordinated misconduct, calling those allegations unfounded.

Johnson has cooperated with investigators, according to her attorney, who said authorities reached out after finding her contact information during the course of their investigation into the March 7 arrest.

Tooson said communication between Johnson and Patel later moved to social media, where messages were exchanged. Johnson documented those conversations to preserve records, he said.

The attorney noted similarities between Johnson’s case and a previous lawsuit he handled involving another Riverside County resident. In that case, the county reached a $375,000 settlement over allegations that a deputy improperly used law enforcement resources to pursue a personal relationship.

Tooson said the latest claim raises broader concerns about conduct within the department, suggesting there may be a pattern of boundary violations involving individuals in custody or recently released.

The post Former Inmate Alleges Riverside County Deputy Misused Records to Contact Her appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

Former McDonald’s CEO Steve Easterbrook has paid back more than $105 million in equity awards and cash to the burger giant after it learned that he had lied about the extent of his misconduct while he was its top executive.

“During my tenure as CEO, I failed at times to uphold McDonald’s values and fulfill certain of my responsibilities as a leader of the company,” Easterbrook said in a prepared statement issued Thursday by McDonald’s. “I apologize to my former co-workers, the board and the company’s franchisees and suppliers for doing so.”

McDonald’s fired Easterbrook in late 2019 after he acknowledged exchanging videos and text messages in a non-physical, consensual relationship with an employee. At the time of his firing, Easterbrook told the company there were no other similar instances and an inspection of his cell phone seemed to back that up. McDonald’s board approved a separation agreement “without cause” that allowed Easterbrook to keep tens of millions in stock-based benefits and other compensation.

Then, in July 2020, the company received an anonymous tip from an employee claiming that Easterbrook had engaged in a sexual relationship with another employee. After an investigation, McDonald’s confirmed that relationship as well as two other physical, sexual relationships with employees in the year before it fired its top executive. The company said Easterbrook had removed evidence of those relationships from his phone.

McDonald’s board sued Easterbrook in August 2020, saying it wouldn’t have terminated him without cause if it had known the extent of his misconduct. The company sought the return of equity awards granted in 2018 and 2019, since Easterbrook’s separation agreement made clear he would forfeit those if the company determined he had engaged in “detrimental conduct.”

The settlement announced Thursday holds Easterbrook accountable and affirms the board’s decision to pursue the case, McDonald’s Chairman Enrique Hernandez Jr. said in a prepared statement.

“The resolution avoids a protracted court process and allows us to move forward,” Hernandez said.

The action against Easterbrook came amid a larger reckoning at the company over sexual harassment in its ranks. Over the last five years, at least 50 workers have filed charges against the company, alleging physical and verbal harassment and, in some cases, retaliation when they came forward.

In October 2019 __ a month before Easterbrook was fired __ McDonald’s introduced a new harassment training program for its 850,000 U.S. employees, but franchisees weren’t required to provide it.

McDonald’s went further this spring, saying it will mandate worker training to combat harassment, discrimination and violence in its restaurants starting next year. The training will be required for 2 million workers at 39,000 stores worldwide.

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

The post Ousted McDonald’s CEO returns $105M after misconduct appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.