23 arrested, several guns seized during ‘Operation Safe Coachella’
Several local law enforcement agencies united to serve numerous search warrants throughout the Coachella Valley on Thursday morning. The efforts resulted in nearly two dozen arrests.
"The search warrants were served on the residences of suspected gang members as the result of criminal investigations into several separate shooting and gun-related crimes within the city of Coachella over the last several months," writes Deputy Robyn Flores of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.
The warrants were served at a little after 5 a.m.
23 people were arrested during the operation. Authorities also seized over 3.5 pounds of methamphetamine, 45 Marijuana plants at an illegal grow, and more than 4 pounds of processed marijuana. Seven weapons were confiscated, including one rifle w/high capacity magazine, one shotgun, five handguns w/ one high capacity magazine.
Thursday's operation was part of "Operation Safe Coachella," an ongoing effort to conduct pro-active preventive and post crime investigative operations to combat crime led by the Coachella Sheriff's Station.
Agencies that assisted with the operation included The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department’s K-9 Unit, California Highway Patrol K-9 Unit, Probation, Parole, East PACT team, Gang Task Force Region’s 1/4/6, Southwest Station, Palm Desert Station, Thermal Station, Cabazon Station, Jurupa Valley Station, Colorado River Station, Perris Station, Lake Elsinore Station, Moreno Valley Station, Major Crimes Unit, Indio Police Department, Riverside County Sheriff SWAT, Desert Regional SWAT, San Bernardino Sheriff SWAT, Corona Police SWAT, Riverside Police SWAT, Inland Valley SWAT, Riverside Auto Theft Interdiction, and the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office.
"Operation Safe Coachella” is a periodically recurring operation led by the Coachella Sheriff’s Station.
Anyone with information regarding ongoing criminal activity or this operation is encouraged to contact Deputy James at (760) 836-1600. Information can also be reported anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at (760) 341-STOP.
