Ignacio Gomez Lares Jr. was arrested last week following a Riverside County Sheriff’s Department investigation.

Along with the possession count, Lares was charged with transportation of drugs for sale, being a felon in possession of ammunition and sentencing- enhancing allegations of perpetrating a felony while on bail and possessing more than four kilograms of fentanyl.

Lares, who is being held in lieu of $150,000 bail at the Byrd Detention Center, was slated to make his initial court appearance Monday afternoon at the Riverside Hall of Justice.

According to sheriff’s Sgt. David Ruiz, earlier this month, the agency’s Special Enforcement Team initiated an investigation at a residence in the 3000 block of Lakeview Drive, near East Rider Street, on the east end of the city. Sufficient evidence was gathered for procurement of a search warrant, which was served on Lares last Wednesday night.

“During the warrant service, deputies located over 50,000 counterfeit M-30 pills,” Ruiz said. “Lares was arrested without incident.”

The pills — also known as “blues” — were contained in multiple plastic bags confiscated by deputies. M-30s often contain fentanyl and other synthetic substances.

“Operations like this one are critical in addressing repeat offenders and deterring narcotic use,” Ruiz said.

It was unclear how long the alleged drug trafficking had occurred at the property.

Court records indicated that Lares has one prior strike felony, but the conviction wasn’t specified. There was also no information on the defendant’s previous arrest, for which he posted bond and was released from custody.

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Daniel Brandon Gonzalez, 23, of Perris was convicted in September of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, two counts of armed robbery and one count of being a felon in possession of a loaded gun, in addition to sentence- enhancing gun-use allegations. The Banning jury acquitted him of attempted murder in connection with the March 2024 attack.

During a hearing at the Banning Justice Center Friday, Riverside County Superior Court Judge Samuel Diaz imposed the required sentence for most counts, though court records indicated that he suspended terms on several others, which would have added an additional 20 to 30 years behind bars, effectively turning it into life with parole.

Gonzalez’s co-defendant, 24-year-old Ethan Michael Morris of Perris, pleaded guilty in 2024 to grand theft under a pretrial agreement with the District Attorney’s Office. In exchange for his admission, prosecutors dropped two related charges against Morris. He was sentenced to six years in prison.

According to sheriff’s Sgt. Chad Thompson, the pair confronted several people, whose identities were not disclosed, shortly after 8 p.m. on March 15, 2024, at a business in the 500 block of West Fourth Street, near Park Avenue.

During the encounter, Gonzalez pulled a handgun and demanded money from the victims, then shot at them but missed, authorities said. No one was injured.

The defendants immediately fled the location.

Detectives spent the ensuing days developing leads that ultimately pointed to Gonzalez and Morris as the robbers.

Morris was arrested a few days later after he was summoned to the sheriff’s Perris station for questioning.

A search warrant was served within a week at Gonzalez’s property in the 300 block of West Third Street, where “items of evidentiary value were located, along with three firearms,” Thompson said.

The defendant was arrested without incident.

Court records show Gonzalez had prior convictions for domestic violence and assault, while Morris had a prior for assault resulting in great bodily injury.

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A man from Perris was arrested and booked for murder after a welfare check led to the discovery of human remains, Riverside County authorities said. 

According to a Riverside County Sheriff’s Department press release, deputies were dispatched to the 2100 block of Glimmer Way in Perris after a welfare check was requested at 9:40 a.m. Friday for a female living at the location. 

“Upon the deputies’ arrival, they located evidence of a homicide,” RSO said.  

After securing the scene, deputies handed the investigation over to the sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit, who found human remains at the residence.  

The decedent was not immediately identified.

Officials later determined the suspect as 44-year-old John Cruthirds. He was later arrested without incident and booked for murder at the Robert Presley Detention Center.

Inmate search records indicate his first court appearance will be Tuesday morning.

Anyone who has information surrounding the investigation is asked to contact Investigator Cline or Master Investigator Gilbert by calling 951-955-2777. 

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