Man Arrested For Trying To Kill Police Officer

CABAZON-A suspect wanted for allegedly trying to kill a police officer was arrested today during a dawn raid at the Morongo Band of Mission Indians’ reservation, just east of Banning.

With the help of Morongo tribal officers, members of the Riverside County sheriff’s Special Investigations Bureau arrested 34-year-old Clifford Wilson Matthews at a house he was occupying in the 11300 block of Mission Road, according to sheriff’s Sgt. Joe Borja.

He said Matthews was wanted on multiple warrants, the most serious connected with the attempted murder of a Banning police officer.

“Nobody was injured, and no shots were fired during the arrest,” Borja said, adding that the operation began around 5:45 a.m. and wrapped up a few hours later.

According to Borja, a second suspect, who was not identified, was detained during the investigation but later released.

Tribal Chairman Robert Martin said Matthews is not a Morongo Indian and was living on property that doesn’t belong to a member of the tribe.

“We were in constant communication with the Sheriff’s Department (during the operation), and I want to thank the investigators for their professionalism,” Martin said in a statement.

“From our end, the tribe cooperated with the Sheriff’s Department,” he said. “Our community center was used as a base of operations. We’re pleased that the situation was resolved peacefully and without incident.”