James Dial Jr.
Coachella- Authorities report that a suspect was arrested in what was believed to be a hate crime against the Islamic Society of the Coachella Valley.
On Friday, December 11, 2015, at approximately 12:11 PM a possible arson was reported at the Islamic Society of Coachella Valley located on the 84-600 block of Avenue 49, in the city of Coachella. Officers arrived within minutes along with Cal-Fire/Riverside County. The fire was quickly contained and authorities reported that no one was injured during the incident.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department/Coachella Police Department came to the conclusion that the fire as an intentional act potentially resulting in a hate crime. According to a press release from the Sheriff’s Department, they then utilized all available resources in an attempt to identify and locate the suspect.
James Dial Jr., 23 of Palm Desert was identified by investigators on Saturday December as a suspect involved in the incident. Dial was located and subsequently arrested in the 77-700 block of Country Club Drive, in the city of Palm Desert. Diaz was booked into Riverside County Jail in the city of Indio, for arson, hate crime, and burglary.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department/Coachella Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and Cal-Fire continue to actively investigate this incident. Anyone having information on this incident is urged to contact Investigator Butvidas at (760) 863-8990. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call (760) 341-STOP.
