Crack down on local gang: 25 arrested after 50 homes raided in Coachella
Authorities use legal action and a raid to take back an east valley community from a street gang.
Police said Varrio Coachella Rifa has been terrorizing the community and now that rein of terror is over.
“It kind of surprised me I didn’t know what was going on,” said Edweard Velasquez, who witnessed Thursday’s raids.
A total of 450 officers served 50 search warrants on suspected Varrio Coachella Rifa gang members. They also did 49 probation checks in a sting dubbed, “Operation Safe Coachella 16.1.” Itwas a continuing ongoing effort of its “Operation Safe Coachella” program.
The hours-long effort resulted in 25 arrests, 17 of them on felony charges. Four guns were also seized as well as drugs and thousands of dollars.
“They have historically terrorized this community. They are responsible for homicides, they are responsible for robberies, assaults and this was an effort to put an end to that gang violence,” said Coachella Assistant Police Chief Lt. Misty Reynolds.
Along with the raids, the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office will file a 2800 page civil lawsuit to stop all gang activity in the area.
“That is a way we can allow law enforcement the police and the residents to take their city back,” said District Attorney Mike Hestrin.
The injunction would create a sort of safe zone around the gang’s main territory.
“If gang members are in the safety zone, they cannot congregate with other gang members, the cannot have gang tattoos, they cannot have gang apparel flash gang signs and if they do any of those things among other things, they can be arrested,” said Hestrin.
Authorities want to break up the gang or run members out of town.
“Really, all of the 2.3 million people that make up Riverside County are under a direct threat unless we hold in check and roll back where ever we can gang influences,” said Sheriff Stan Sniff.
Neighbors we talked with told us they’re glad authorities took action, but wished it happened sooner.
“They are not going to catch anybody. They’ve been doing it for awhile, they are too smart, but at least they are giving it a try,” said Velasquez.
The injunction still needs to be approved by judge in court before it takes affect. Each of the 121 alleged gang members served do have the opportunity to dispute it.
121 members named in civil lawsuit against street gang
The Riverside County Sheriffs Department held a news conference about the raids Thursday afternoon.
News Release: DA Hestrin seeking gang injunction in Coachella Valley
The operation started at 6:00 a.m. and stemmed from gang violence the Riverside County Sheriffs Department said has been occurring in the city of Coachella.
A statement from the Sheriffs Department said “Operation Safe Coachella 16.1” was a continuing ongoing effort of its “Operation Safe Coachella” program.
The statement said the Coachella Police Department is committed to ensuring that the life and property of law-abiding residents is protected.
The effort is also aimed at preventing residents from being victimized by predatory gang members.
Anyone with information regarding ongoing criminal activity or this operation is encouraged to contact Investigator Matt Diaz at (760) 863-8856. Information can also be reported anonymously through Crime Stoppers at (760) 341-STOP.
Stay with KESQ News Channel 3 / CBS Local 2 News for updates on this breaking news.
