The suspects, all residents of Jurupa Valley, were identified by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department as:

• Thomas Balandran, 50
• Sherri Alvarez, 48
• Brianna Balandran, 19
• Unidentified juvenile, 17

On April 24, deputies responded to a business in Temecula where thieves attempted to steal over $1,000 worth of merchandise.

Investigators identified the suspects and discovered they were responsible for at least 10 retail thefts throughout Riverside, San Bernardino, and Los Angeles counties. The family had reportedly stolen over $7,000 worth of items during those incidents, authorities said.

On May 13, a search warrant was served at a home in the 6800 block of Valley Way in Jurupa Valley.

During the search, deputies found a large amount of stolen merchandise with price tags still attached. Other items, including narcotics and paraphernalia, were also found in the home.

Detectives learned there were additional homes connected to the thefts that involved suspects knowingly buying stolen goods to resell for profit, also known as “fencing.”

On May 14, two additional warrants were served in Moreno Valley where over $3,000 worth of stolen items were found.

The adult family members were arrested on charges of organized retail theft, burglary, conspiracy, and grand theft. The 17-year-old juvenile was released to a family member and charges will be filed with juvenile probation.

Deputies discovered that Balandran was on probation for grand theft at the time and additional charges were added to include violation of probation and drug-related offenses.

Investigators believe there are more retail thefts involving the family that have not been reported.

Anyone with additional information can call Deputy Christina Weber at 951-696-3133.

“The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office has zero tolerance for these offenses and will continue to work proactively with our allied agencies, loss prevention partners, and the District Attorney’s Office to combat organized retail crime,” authorities said.

The post Southern California family arrested for series of alleged retail thefts appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

File # I232780061

Details:

On Friday, October 20th, 2023, the San Jacinto Station’s Special Enforcement Team served a narcotics-related search warrant in the 600 block of East Shaver Street in the city of San Jacinto. Deputies arrested a 17-year-old male juvenile, and Issac Corona, a 25-year-old resident of Indio, without incident. During a search of the property, deputies located the following items:

• Over $10,000.00 in cash
• 350 Xanax pills, 50 Oxycodone pills, 9 Adderall pills, and 1 bottle of Promethazine
• 29 grams of Psilocybin Mushrooms
• Four unregistered firearms

Additionally, items indicative of illicit narcotic sales were located. The 17-year-old male juvenile was later booked into the Juvenile Hall for various narcotic and weapon related offenses. Issac Corona was also booked into Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility for various narcotic and weapon related offenses.

This is an on-going investigation. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact Deputy Pena at the San Jacinto Sheriff’s Station at (951) 654-2702.

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

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File #  I232440081

Details:

On Friday, September 1, 2023, the San Jacinto Station’s Special Enforcement Team served a narcotics-related search warrant in the 400 block of Dover Court in the city of San Jacinto. Deputies arrested Luis Alberto Ramirez-Martinez, a 28-year-old resident of San Jacinto, and Pilar Israel Silvas-Palafox, a 31-year-old resident of San Jacinto, without incident. During a search of the property, an indoor illegal marijuana grow was located along with the following items:

• Over $2,000.00 in cash
• 216 Marijuana Plants
• Three ounces of cocaine
• One unregistered handgun
• 65 rounds of ammunition

Additionally, items indicative of illicit narcotic sales were located. Ramirez-Martinez and Silvas-Palafox were later transported and booked into the Smith Correctional Facility for various narcotic and weapon related offenses.

This is an on-going investigation. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact Deputy Calvillo at the San Jacinto Sheriff’s Station at (951) 654-2702.

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

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File # F23229007

Details:

On Thursday, August 17, 2023, Lake Elsinore Special Enforcement Team and GTF Region 4 served a narcotics-related search warrant on the 33000 block of Adelfa Street, Lake Elsinore. Deputies arrested Paul Puga, a 52-year-old resident of Lake Elsinore, without incident. During a search of the property, deputies and officers, including K9 units, located the following items:

• Over $20,000 in cash
• 927 M30 pills
• 1 pound methamphetamine
• 2.1 pounds fentanyl
• 15 grams cocaine
• Three non-serialized handguns
• 120 rounds of various ammunition
• One silencer
• Four extended magazines
• One high-capacity rifle magazine

Puga was transported and booked into the Cois Byrd Detention Center for the following charges: felon in possession of a firearm, felon in possession of ammunition, possession of fentanyl for sale, possession of narcotics for sale, possession of a silencer, concealing controlled substances in a false compartment, and bringing narcotics into the jail.

This is an ongoing investigation. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact Deputy Hibbler at the Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Station at (951) 245–3300.

As a reminder, “Community Policing” involves partnerships between law enforcement and community members. Business owners and residents are encouraged to report criminal activity directly to law enforcement by calling Sheriff’s Dispatch at (951) 776–1099 or 911 if the matter is an emergency.

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

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

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File # L230170056

Details:

On January 17, 2023, at 12:30 PM, deputies from the Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Station responded to the 31500 block of Canyon Estates Drive in Lake Elsinore reference a fight. Upon arrival, deputies discovered the subjects involved in the fight were still at the location. Deputies contacted Brandon Lee (age 34) a resident of Gardena, and Jonathan Mangrum (age 31) a resident of Lake Elsinore.

While speaking with both Mangrum and Lee, deputies saw a large amount of narcotics inside the room, which led to a search warrant. As a result, several loaded firearms, and additional items associated with the sales of narcotics were located.

Both Lee and Mangrum were booked into Cois Byrd Detention Center and charged with possession of narcotics for sales and possession of loaded firearms.

This is an ongoing investigation. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact Deputy Howe or Deputy Stacey at the Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Station at (951) 245-3300.

As a reminder, “Community Policing” involves partnerships between law enforcement and community members.  Business owners and residents are encouraged to report criminal activity directly to law enforcement by calling Sheriff’s Dispatch at (951) 776-1099, or by calling 911 if the matter is an emergency.

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

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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.

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

The post Documented Gang Members in Possession of a Firearm and Narcotics appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

File # GE222640004

Details:

On Wednesday, September 21, 2022, at 1:05 P.M. the Coachella Valley Violent Crime Gang Task Force (GVVCGTF) conducted suppression patrol in the city of Cathedral City. During the patrol, Gang Task Force Officers conducted a traffic enforcement stop near Date Palm Drive and Tortuga Road in Cathedral City. During the stop, Gang Task Force Officers contacted the occupants of the vehicle, Mohammad Ali Mir, a 49-year-old resident of Desert Hot Springs and Andrew Gamboa, a 32-year-old resident of Desert Hot Springs. Gang Task Force Officers learned Mir was on active state parole and conducted a parole compliance search of the vehicle. During the search, they located a loaded 9mm handgun without any identifying serial numbers (commonly referred to as a “Ghost Gun”). Additionally, they located suspected methamphetamine and evidence indicative of narcotics sales. Both Mir and Gamboa were arrested at the scene. Mir was charged with Convicted Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Possession of Methamphetamine for Sales, Possession of a Loaded Firearm with Narcotics and Violation of Parole. Gamboa was charged with Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Committing a Felony While on Bail, and Driving While Addicted to Drugs. Mir and Gamboa were subsequently booked at 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 Officer Coddington of the CVVCGTF 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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The post Convicted Felons Arrested with a Loaded Firearm and Narcotics appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

File # L221320042

Details:

In August of 2022, the Lake Elsinore Station Special Enforcement Team received information regarding narcotic activity at a residence in the 32000 Block of Wesley Street in the city of Wildomar. The subsequent investigation culminated in the service of a search warrant at the residence. During the service of the search warrant, 112 grams of methamphetamine were located along with 40 M-30 pills, 25 ml of Fentanyl, 3 grams of heroin, and 20 firearms. Numerous motorcycles were located on the property several of which had been reported stolen and were in various stages of disassembly. Steven Fritz, a 71-year-old resident of Wildomar, and Teresa Odonnell, a 56-year-old resident of Wildomar, are the primary occupants of the residence and were arrested for suspected possession of a controlled substance while in possession of a firearm, maintaining a residence for the use and sale of drugs, and Chop Shop Operation. Tony Goff, a 38-year-old resident of Wildomar, was arrested for an outstanding felony warrant and suspected sales of illegal drugs. Michael Kuderman, a 51-year-old resident of Widlomar, was also arrested for suspected sales of illegal drugs.

As a reminder, “Community Policing” involves partnerships between law enforcement and community members. Business owners and residents are encouraged to report criminal activity directly to law enforcement by calling Sheriff’s Dispatch at (951) 776-1099, or by calling 911 if the matter is an emergency.

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 4 Suspects Arrested in Narcotic Related Search Warrant appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

File # GS221160001

Details:

During the month of April 2022, a Deputy from the Murrieta / Temecula Regional Gang Task Force began a weapons and narcotic sales investigation believed to be related to a residence and a public storage locker in Murrieta.

On April 26, 2022, the team served a search warrant at an unoccupied storage locker in the 24900 block of Whitewood Road. An AK-47 assault style rifle, large capacity magazines, and ammunition were recovered from the storage unit.

On May 20, 2022, the gang team with assistance from the Murrieta Police Department’s Special Enforcement Team (SET) and the Community Policing Team (CPT) served a second related search warrant at a residence in the 40000 block of Pearl Drive. A short barrel rifle, high-capacity magazine, over a half pound of Fentanyl, over one thousand M-30 Pills, several ounces of combined heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, along with ammunition, and gun parts were seized.

36-year-old Richard Murphy and 34-year-old Lisa Wehus were arrested at the location and eventually booked into Cois Byrd Detention Center on a variety of weapon and narcotic charges.

If have any information related to this investigation you can contact Region 4 Gang Task Force Deputy T. Tully at 951-461-6344 or if you have information related to gang or illegal weapon related activity in your neighborhood, you can contact Sergeant S. Dyer at the Murrieta-Temecula Regional Gang Task Force at 951-461-6363.

You may also provide information anonymously through the Riverside County Gang Task Force online TipForm. 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 which compose the Riverside County Regional Gang Task Force which is a collaborative effort of multiple law enforcement agencies with the goal of combating criminal street gangs.

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 Firearms and Narcotics Seized During Two Search Warrants appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

The Hemet/San Jacinto Valley Gang Task Force has been in existence since April 2006. The Law Enforcement Agencies within “The Valley” have been working together since this time on a daily basis. The Hemet/San Jacinto Gang Task Force is comprised of members from the Hemet Police Department, Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, and the California Highway Patrol. The Hemet/San Jacinto Valley Gang Task Force operates in the Cities of Hemet, San Jacinto, and the unincorporated areas of Hemet. The law enforcement leadership within the valley meets regularly and coordinates the Hemet/San Jacinto Valley Gang Task Force activities. Since the formation of the task force, leadership has recognized the importance of working together to provide the highest level of service for the citizens within the Hemet/San Jacinto Valley.

The Hemet/San Jacinto Valley Gang Task Force is one of five teams comprising the entire Riverside County Regional Gang Task Force, which is a collaborative effort of various law enforcement agencies with the goal of combating criminal street gangs.

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

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The post Vehicle Pursuit of Felon Arrested with Firearm and Narcotics appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.