Riverside County, CA riversidesheriff.org Joined June 2012. ", Later in the statement, he said, "We have absolutely nothing to hide and will be more than cooperative and accommodating with this investigation. Information and evidence discovered during the subsequent investigation led investigators to arrest Raymond Tyrrell, 18 years old out of French Valley for murder. Bonta said Thursday that his office could request that a court order changes to how the department operates if problems are found. He noted that the supervisors in that county had opened several investigations into the conduct of the sheriff and conditions in the county's jails, even before the attorney general got involved. We will be completely open, honest and share everything we can with our community throughout this investigation because we have serious concerns that Bontas DOJ will not.. If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here. The attorney generals media office said Friday, Feb. 24, that Bontas news conference remarks speak for themselves. Riverside County supervisors got in-depth briefs from sheriffs executive staff on the overdose deaths, the smuggling of drugs into the jails, a review of the reporting requirements for the department, Supervisor Kevin Jeffries said via email. And when it did, it reported inaccurate information, most often that the inmate had been sentenced at the time of their death when, in fact, they had not. The suspect was ultimately wounded and taken into custody. A Riverside County sheriff's deputy died Thursday morning from complications of the coronavirus, the latest sign of how law enforcement is being hit hard by the outbreak. Nigro told The Desert Sun that she doesn't trust the sheriff's department to do an impartial investigation of his death. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact Investigator Leone at the Lake Elsinore Sheriff's Station at (951) 245-3300. Most recently, several families, and advocacy groups, including the ACLU of Southern California and Starting Over Inc. sent a letter to the California Board of State and Community Corrections, the agency that inspects local jails. On February 24, 2023, at 12:00 pm, the Lake Elsinore Station Special Enforcement Team (SET) deputies conducted a traffic enforcement stop in the 20000 block of Van Buren Avenue in the city of Riverside. The Desert Sun newspaper has done a stellar job of tracking not only an unusual spike in Riverside County jail deaths last year, but also pointing out the secretive nature of the Sheriffs Department. By Kim Jarrell Johnson. The Desert Sun found last year that Bianco's department broke the law when it failed to report some inmates' deaths to the state Department of Justice within 10 days. Headquarters and Specialized Divisions. RIVERSIDE It's time for the attorney general of California to investigate the Riverside County Sheriff's Department (RSD) for its racist policing practices, rampant patrol and jail deaths, and its refusal to comply with a court orders. (File photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley DailyBulletin/SCNG). In an op-ed published in January of last year, Luis Nolasco at the ACLU of Southern California and Avalon Edwards at Starting Over Inc. documented a litany of problems at the Riverside Sheriffs Department, including: These kinds of problems have only continued to fester. RIVERSIDE, CA - On Monday, September 20, 2021 at approximately 2:17 p.m., the City of Riverside's Public Safety Communications Center received a 9-1-1 call from a woman who reported that a man was armed with a handgun in her apartment, located along the 800 block of Blaine Street in Riverside. "As part of my offices ongoing efforts to support constitutional policing, the California Department of Justice is opening a civil rights investigation into the Riverside County Sheriffs Office. 0:00. (File photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG), The California attorney generals civil rights probe of the Riverside County Sheriffs Department announced Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023, does restore my faith in justice, thats for sure, county Democratic Party Chair Joy Silver said. Be the first to know when news breaks in Coachella Valley. On February 26, 2023, at 1:17 am, Romero was located and taken into custody for attempted murder. Several among the relatives of the 20 who have died have shared similar experiences of being told of the death days or weeks after it occurred. The investigation follows 18 reported deaths last year double the countys per-year average in the countys five jails. Riverside Sheriff ' s Lake Mathews Station Lake Mathews Facebook PR Feed This site is not monitored 24/7, in case of an emergency call 911. If you are interested in a career with us, please apply . He told reporters that his office has been tracking deaths in jail, use of deadly force and other statistics in Riverside County for some time. As Deputy Calhoun approached the residence, the suspect began shooting at him, and a deputy-involved shooting occurred. County Supervisor Kevin Jeffries said he is concerned by the jail deaths, including those from drug overdoses, and hopes the attorney general's investigation will find solutions. An inmate died early Thursday morning at the Cois M. Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta. Reporting Deputy: Sergeant Jeff Reese File # L222630043 . Press Releases Riverside County Sheriff, CA CivicEngage Sort By: All Categories 157 Stories Posted on: February 27, 2023 Homicide Reporting Deputy: Sergeant Ben Ramirez File # F230570023 Details: He added that he thinks county jails around the state are overloaded with inmates and being asked to hold people longer than local jails were designed to, due to decisions by state prisons. All Californians deserve fairness and respect from the institutions that serve them,said Attorney General Bonta. The investigation reve On February 23, 2023, members of the Thermal Station Special Investigations Unit and the Fugitives & Warrants Enforcement Team were investigating a robbery in the 50200 block of South Ba On January 12, 2023, Thermal Station patrol units responded to Bagdouma Park in the city of Coachella regarding a robbery and assault with a deadly weapon. In September 2021, a coalition of criminal justice reform advocates, including the ACLU of Southern California, called on Bonta to investigate the sheriffs office, citing concerns about access to mental and physical health treatment for inmates, COVID-19 protocols in jails, use of force by deputies and the rate at which homicides are solved. For media inquiries regarding this incident please contact the Media Information Bureau. The Riverside County District Attorneys Office declined to file charges against the five deputies involved, though an autopsy by the Riverside County Coroners Office determined their actions contributed to Serranos death by overdose. 09/29/2016 - Johnson County Sheriff's Office Updates Text Alert System on Website. After Serrano said I cant breathe, he stopped breathing and died. Calhoun began working as a Riverside County Sheriff's Deputy on February 24, 2022. Unfortunately, it is clear that amid concerning levels of in-custody deaths and allegations of misconduct too many families and communities in Riverside County are hurting and looking for answers. If you have an emergency need, please call 911. (File photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG) Press Releases. We look forward to the conclusion of this inquiry. The Riverside County Sheriffs Office wants to remind citizens of the dangers of illicit narcotics, many of which may contain Fentanyl. "This announcement comes as a shock but at the same time, should have been expected from our California DOJ and the attorney general who cares more about politics than he does about transparency or the truth", "This investigation is based on nothing but false and misleading statements and straight out lies from activists including their attorneys," Bianco said. Attorney General Rob Bonta announced Thursday that his investigators will probe whether Sheriff Chad Bianco's department has taken part in a pattern or practice of unconstitutional conduct in violation of state or federal law. In September, the group also sent a letter to the attorney general and the county's board of supervisors asking for outside investigations of the deaths and to create a separate coroner's office to investigate them in the future. Deputies arrived and had to use force to restrain him, Bianco said at the time. Local news- Press Release Riverside County Sheriff California - Porch Pirate Arrested 01 March 2023 ( news ) Riverside County Sheriff , state California ( By Press Release office) Mar 01,2023 | 2 | 1 Reporting Deputy: Sergeant Robert Martinez File # MV230590142 Details: On February 27 , 2023 , the Moreno Valley Sheriff's Station's Robbery . This investigation is ongoing and anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact Investigator Garcia-Flores at 951-955-1700. See press release for full route. Riverside's release rate goes up, even as other counties' go down In February, about three weeks before Gov. Coachella and La Quinta, Calif. The Riverside County Sheriffs Office, is reminding football fans to stick to the &ld On January 7, 2023, the John Benoit Detention Centers Correctional Intelligence Bureau (CIB) contacted the Thermal Station Investigations Bureau regarding intercepted mail satura On Tuesday, January 24, 2023, at 5:24 PM, deputies from the Thermal Sheriff's Station responded to the area of Costa Mesa Drive and Avenue 68, in North Shore, regarding a drowning On Saturday, January 21, 2023, at 3:23 PM, deputies from the Thermal Station responded to a call of a deceased male in the 67900 block of Nina Drive in the unincorporated area of Thermal. In a statement through a spokesperson, county CEO Jeff Van Wagenen, who reports to the board of supervisors, said: "The county will fully cooperate and provide any information that is available. ACLU joins calls for outside investigation of deaths in Riverside County jails, Riverside sheriff failed to report inmate deaths to state on time; names of dead made public, The Desert Sun found last year that Bianco's department broke the law when it failed to report some inmates' deaths to the state Department of Justice, Santa Clara Sheriff Laurie Smith was convicted in a civil corruption trial, sent a letter to the attorney general and the county's board of supervisors, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and his wife, Denise Bianco, enjoy the Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023, ceremony at which he was sworn in for a second term on the steps of the Riverside Historic Courthouse. The county paid $136,000 to settle a federal civil rights suit filed by Chen-Chen Hwang, 67, and her husband, Jiun-Tsong Wu, 75, states a news release from their . The Sheriff's Department described the deadly encounter in a news release: "On January 13, 2023, about 4:20 pm, Deputy Darnell Calhoun responded to the 18000 block of Hilldale Lane, in the . A Riverside County Sheriff's deputy was shot and killed during a traffic stop in Jurupa Valley Thursday afternoon. Delgado was arrested and booked into Robert Presley Detention Center on multiple weapons chargers and narcotic sales. Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. That coalition included Corona-based Starting Over Inc. Starting Over is grateful that the families who have lost loved ones to violence and neglect from the Riverside County Sheriffs Department will see some oversight from the Department of Justice, Avalon Edwards, Starting Over policy associate, said via email. In April 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic took hold, Prison Law Office asked U.S. District Court Judge Virginia A. Phillips to enforce the terms of the settlement. Medical personnel arrived on scene and transported both subjects to a local area hospital where they received medical attention. Sheriff's Administration Posted on: January 14, 2023 Deputy Involved Shooting. "This will prove to be a complete waste of time and resources.". Berkeley-based Prison Law Office, which aims to protect the rights of inmates, filed a class-action lawsuit in 2013 that demanded the county improve health care for inmates. City Stations. On February 25, 2023, at 10:37 PM, deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff's Office, assigned to the Cabazon Station, responded to the 49500 block of Seminole Drive, Cabazon reference a female screaming for help. On February 12, 2022, about 7:09 PM, personnel from the Southwest Sheriffs Station were dispatched to a call of an unresponsive male adult in the 27500 block of Jefferson Avenue in the city of Temecula. Palm Desert Station Posted on: March 3, 2023 Update - Fatal Traffic Collision. On Wednesday, February 24, 2021, at 7:04 PM, deputies from the Southwest Station responded to the a residence in the 35000 Block of Sugar Maple Street in French Valley reference an overdose. The Coroners Bureau determined Trask died as a result of Fentanyl Poisoning and the case was immediately assumed by the Riverside County Sheriffs Office Overdose Death Investigations and Narcotics Unit (ODIN). In Sept 2021, the ACLU wrote a letter to the AG calling for an investigation on the Riverside County Sheriff's Dept. The deputy has died, the Riverside County Sheriff's Dept announced. News Channel 3 is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation. The editorial board and opinion section staff are independent of the news-gathering side of our organization. Whether you have a loved one in jail or are worried about crime in your neighborhood, we all benefit when there is action to ensure the integrity of policing in our state.". For media inquiries regarding this incident please contact the Media Information Bureau. The probe will determine whether Biancos department engaged in a pattern or practice of unconstitutional policing amid deeply concerning allegations relating to conditions of confinement in its jail facilities, excessive force, and other misconduct, a California Department of Justice news release states. The Riverside County Sheriff's Hazardous Device Team responded to the location and took possession of the explosive materials. Severalinmates families have accused the department of withholding information on their loved ones deaths. Press Releases A A Special Investigations Bureau 2 Stories Posted on: February 1, 2023 Operation Reclaim and Rebuild 2023 Reporting Deputy: Sergeant Jeff Hammond File # N/A Details: During the week of January 23, 2023, the Riverside County Sheriff's Office participated in Operation Reclaim & Rebuild. During the search warrant, SET deputies located 31 additional weapons, which included illegal assault rifles and un-serialized firearms. Im greatly encouraged by the possibility and potential of justice, Riverside County Democratic Party Chair Joy Silver, who helped form an anti-Bianco political action committee, said Thursday, Feb. 23, the same day Attorney General Rob Bonta announced his probe. Anyone with information relevant to the investigation can contact the California Department of Justices Civil Rights Enforcement Section atPolice-Practices@doj.ca.gov. The District Attorneys Office declined to file charges against the deputies in Serranos death from a methamphetamine overdose after deciding that their actions were lawful. If you wish to report a crime, request an officer, or have a concern that should be handled in a . Whether you have a loved one in jail or are worried about crime in your neighborhood, we all benefit when there is action to ensure the integrity of policing in our state.. The agency announced the deputy is in serious condition. Booking # 202239734 Mora, Ramon (Last RSO booking-currently I/C with Bureau of Prisons). Upon arrival, deputies found Cameron Trask, a 43-year-old male, unresponsive in a bathroom stall. Thursday, February 23, 2023 Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov LOS ANGELES - California Attorney General Rob Bonta today announced opening a civil rights investigation into the Riverside County Sheriff's Office (RCSO). Riverside County will fully cooperate (with the investigation) and provide any information that is available, County Executive Officer Jeff Van Wagenen said in an email. The guard tased Serrano to no effect. The California attorney general's civil rights investigation into the Riverside County Sheriff's Department provides long-overdue oversight and accountability for the county's largest law enforcement agency, say frequent critics of the department and its elected leader, Sheriff Chad Bianco. Deputy Calhoun sustained life threatening injuries and was rushed to a local area hospital by sheriffs deputies. Press Releases. : CVRI2101557. Breaking News 1,072 Following. Former Santa Clara Sheriff Laurie Smith was convicted in a civil corruption trial in November for providing concealed carry weapons permits in exchange for political donations or other favors. The investigation will determine if the agency engaged. Bonta noted he assumed an investigation of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, and accountability actions in connection with the Torrance and Bakersfield police departments. "We hope that this will lead to meaningful accountability and oversight over a department rife with in-custody deaths of county residents.". "When some communities dont see or feel they are being treated equitably by law enforcement, it contributes to distrust and hurts public safety. Humberto Guizar, the attorney representing the family of a man who died in sheriffs custody in 2020, praised Bonta for starting the investigation to provide transparency on how the department operates. 35000 Block of Sugar Maple Street, French Valley, Sergeant Rick Espinoza, Central Homicide Unit. This investigation is ongoing and anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact Investigator Garcia-Flores at 951-955-1700. Non-Emergency Dispatch. The decedent was identified as a 16 year old female from French Valley. Mr. California Department of Justice opens needed, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), California Department of Justice opens needed investigation into troubled Riverside County Sheriffs Department, Riverside Countys public sector pension woes will persist for many more years, To save legal marijuana market in California, cut the red tape of taxes and over-regulation, Californias Eric Garcetti and Julie Su are bad picks by President Biden, Gov. The California Department of Justice released data that showed Brawn Lamar Hampton's May 26 death as the most recent in Riverside County. The man's identity has not been released. The union representing sheriffs deputies, corrections officers and other law enforcement personnel is standing by Bianco. Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. In a statement he sent to The Desert Sun, Bianco said the investigation came as a "shock" and described it as politically motivated. 09/04/2016 - Shooting Investigation Continues. The male was revived; however, the female was pronounced deceased by hospital staff. pic.twitter.com/jFPtjN1fFA. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact Investigator Leone at the Lake Elsinore Sheriffs Station at (951) 2453300. A few hours later, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco posted a video response to Bonta's announcement, calling it a political stunt. Follow Us! For media inquiries regarding this incident please contact the Media Information Bureau. Unlike a criminal probe, the upcoming patterns and practices investigation wont target specific people or incidents, but take a broader look at how the department does its job. The letter detailed their requests for more oversight of the sheriff's department and the deaths in the jails. There are no further suspects. SACRAMENTO, CA(2/27/23)Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino) announced today he received the Riverside Sheriffs' Association's 2023 State Elected Official Award from the association at the group's annual Board of Directors Awards Banquet.