Riverside Sheriff Feed

Reporting Deputy: Deputy Claro Sanchez 

File # N/A

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Riverside County Sheriff’s Department/City of Palm Desert Awarded  $101,148  Grant to Deter Unsafe Behaviors, Increase Safety on Roads

Palm Desert, Calif. – The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department/Palm Desert Station will increase patrols throughout the community and provide other traffic safety programs to help reduce the number of serious injuries and deaths on roads.

“This grant funding allows us to support our ongoing traffic safety efforts in the community,” Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, Deputy Claro Sanchez said. “Our intent is to stop the most unlawful and dangerous behaviors that put people at risk and create an environment where everyone feels safe traveling.”

The grant will provide additional programs and resources, including:

• DUI checkpoints and patrols focused on stopping suspected impaired drivers.
• High visibility distracted driving enforcement operations targeting drivers in violation of California’s hands-free cell phone law.
• Education “Know Your Limit Campaign” program intended to inform the public on how little it takes to reach the legal limit for blood alcohol content (BAC).
• Enforcement operations focused on the most dangerous driver behaviors that put the safety of people biking or walking at risk. 
• Enforcement operations focused on top violations that cause crashes: speeding, failure to yield, stop sign and/or red-light running, and improper turning or lane changes.
• Enforcement operations focused on street racing and sideshows.
• Enforcement operations focused on the apprehension of persons with alcohol/ traffic related arrest warrants.

The grant program will run through September 2023.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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Reporting Deputy: Joshua Robertson

File # N/A

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Riverside County Sheriff’s Department City of Rancho Mirage Awarded $81,733.00 Grant to Deter Unsafe Behaviors, Increase Safety on Roads

Riverside County Sheriff’s Department City of Rancho Mirage, Calif. – Will increase patrols throughout the community and provide other traffic safety programs to help reduce the number of serious injuries and deaths on roads.

“This grant funding allows us to support our ongoing traffic safety efforts in the community,” Riverside Sheriff’s Department, City of Rancho Mirage, Deputy Joshua Robertson said. “Our intent is to stop the most unlawful and dangerous behaviors that put people at risk and create an environment where everyone feels safe traveling.” Click or tap here to enter text.

The grant will provide additional programs and resources, including: DUI checkpoints and patrols focused on stopping suspected impaired drivers.

• High visibility distracted driving enforcement operations targeting drivers in violation of California’s hands-free cell phone law.
• Enforcement operations focused on the most dangerous driver behaviors that put the safety of people biking or walking at risk.
• Enforcement operations focused on top violations that cause crashes: speeding, failure to yield, stop sign and/or red-light running, and improper turning or lane changes.
• Community presentations on traffic safety issues such as distracted driving, impaired driving, speeding, bicycle and pedestrian safety.
• Collaborative enforcement efforts with neighboring agencies.
• Officer training and/or recertification: Standard Field Sobriety Test (SFST), Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE) and Drug Recognition Expert (DRE).

The grant program will run through September 2023.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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

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Reporting Deputy: Sergeant K. Bikul

File # N/A

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Plan Ahead This Holiday Season: Be Safe and Drive Sober

Perris, California. – Millions of people will be traveling to visit friends and family over the holidays. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office – Perris Station encourages everyone to celebrate safely and have a holiday game plan that includes a designated sober driver.

During the pre-Christmas and New Year’s holiday season Nov. 28-Dec. 13, The Perris Station will have deputies on patrol looking for drivers suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

“We want everyone to enjoy the holidays and be safe,” said Perris Station – Traffic Sergeant K. Bikul. “If you plan to go out and celebrate, make sure you plan ahead and find a safe, sober ride home because driving impaired should never be an option.”

Drunk driving is a problem on our nation’s roads every day, but it’s more prevalent during the holidays. During the 2016–2020 December months, there were more than 4,400 people killed in drunk-driving-related crashes.

The Perris Station reminds drivers that a “DUI Doesn’t Just Mean Booze.” Prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs and marijuana can also impair, especially in combination with alcohol and other drugs.

Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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

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Reporting Deputy: Sergeant Ed Reynoso

File # A222410026

Details:

On August 29, 2022, about 5:41 PM, deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Colorado River Station responded to a stabbing at Chanslorway and Ehlers Blvd. in the unincorporated area of Blythe. The 24-year-old victim was fishing in a nearby canal when he was approached by four Hispanic males in a red four-door SUV type vehicle. The four males exited the vehicle and a confrontation occurred. During the confrontation, one of the males stabbed the victim with a knife. The victim was able to flee the area and was then transported to a local hospital with serious injuries.

The investigation led deputies to the 1300 block of San Gorgonio Way in the city of Blythe where the suspect vehicle was located, and several persons of interest were detained and interviewed. Investigators from the Colorado River Station responded and assumed the investigation.

This investigation is on-going. Anyone with information on this case is encouraged to call Investigator Barron with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Colorado River Station by calling (760) 921–7900.

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

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Reporting Deputy: Sergeant Ed Reynoso

File # A222720008

Details:

Julie Wood

On September 29, 2022, at 2:55 PM, the Colorado River Station Special Enforcement Team (SET), conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle on 7th Avenue and Hobsonway in the city of Blythe. A records check revealed the driver and sole occupant, Julie Wood, a 64-year-old resident of Sky Valley, had a felony warrant for theft, as well as two misdemeanor warrants. She was arrested and taken into custody without incident.

A subsequent search of Wood’s vehicle revealed items indicative of a mobile butane honey oil lab operation, a short-barreled AR-15 style long rifle without a serial number, known as a “Ghost Gun”, and other drug paraphernalia. Wood was booked into the Blythe Jail for the following charges:

• Manufacturing of a controlled substance (Butane Honey Oil) mobile clandestine laboratory
• Possession of an unserialized firearm
• Possession of a short-barreled rifle

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department has a zero-tolerance policy for these offenses. If you suspect illegal activity in your area, please contact your local Sheriff’s Station. In addition, The Colorado River Station – Special Enforcement Team is locally dedicated to serving our farming and rural communities and enforcing the law to protect our citizens. Anyone with additional information regarding this case is urged to contact Cpl. Pfohlman by calling 760-921-7900.

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

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Reporting Deputy: Sergeant Ed Reynoso

File # N/A

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The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office Reminds Parents Are Key to Keeping Teens Safe Behind the Wheel

National Teen Driver Safety Week kicks off October 16

Blythe, CA – In recognition of National Teen Driver Safety Week (October 16-22), Riverside Sheriff-Colorado River Station encourages teens and their parents to talk about the importance of following the rules of the road and driving responsibly. 

Car crashes remain the leading cause of death for teens. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), 2,378 teenagers died in car crashes in 2020 – a 14% increase from the prior year. Per mile driven, teen drivers are nearly four times as likely to be involved in a crash as drivers in all other age groups.

“Parents play a critical role in teen driver safety and in communicating important driving safety information,” Riverside Sheriff-Colorado River Station Deputy Ruvalcaba said. “Teen drivers are still gaining experience behind the wheel and more likely to take risks and pick up bad habits. Therefore, it is important for parents and caregivers to play an active role in talking to their teens about risky driving behaviors that can lead to deadly and tragic consequences.”

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department offers the following tips to parents and guardians for starting conversations about safe driving with teens:

• Provisional Driver’s License: Learn about California’s provisional licensing law, which places restrictions on passengers and driving at night during the first year they have a license.
• Lead by example: Have driving sessions with your teen. Tell, but also show your teen how to drive safely.
• Set ground rules: Be firm on rules such as no phone use, being distracted by friends, always following the speed limit, and always buckling up.
• Sober driving: Emphasize the importance of never driving under the influence or riding with someone who has been drinking.

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

If you are interested in a career with us, please apply at joinrsd.org or call 1-888-Join-RSD