Cathedral City man arrested in gang task force operation

The Coachella Valley Violent Gang Task Force arrested a Cathedral City man on Thursday after serving three search warrants around the Coachella Valley connected to a Thousand Palms shooting that happened in July.

Officers searched homes in the following areas:

52800 block of Avenida Velasco in La Quinta
31700 block of Calle Helene in Thousand Palms
68900 block of Olancha Road in Cathedral City

As a result of the investigation, 41-year-old Juan Gonzalez was arrested for being a felon in possession of a loaded handgun, possession of methamphetamine for sale, and possession of narcotics while armed with a loaded gun, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

The investigation was launched after a shooting took place on July 11 at about 12:35 a.m. in the 32700 block of Westchester Drive, located in the unincorporated area of Thousand Palms.

Nobody was injured in the shooting, but deputies learned an unknown suspect drove by the victim’s home and fired several shots towards the house, striking the victim’s vehicle parked in front of the residence, according to the sheriff’s release.

The CVVCGTF took over the investigation and identified documented gang members involved in the shooting.

Gonzalez was booked into the Riverside County Jail in Indio for charges related to Friday’s search warrants. It’s unclear at this time if he was in fact connected to the shooting in Thousand Palms.

Gonzalez was released on $30,000 bail and he’s scheduled to make his first court appearance on October 1.

If you have any information about this crime, please contact Deputy Chacon at (760) 760-345-3700.

News Channel 3 and CBS Local 2 will deliver updates as the case moves forward.