Twenty-Five Arrested in “Operation Safe Coachella”

Twenty-Five Arrested in “Operation Safe Coachella”

Jose Hernandez, the oldest of the arrestees, 63

COACHELLA — In a major sweep focusing on gang violence across Coachella, a team of officers from multiple agencies made 25 arrests (mugshots here).

On Thursday, February 25, 2016, at about 6:00 AM officers from the Coachella Police Department and Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, supported by additional Federal, State, and local law enforcement officers, began serving a series of search warrants in the city of Coachella and surrounding area.  The search warrants were served at the residences of suspected gang members in an effort to address the rising gang violence in the city of Coachella.

Alex Ceballos, the youngest arrestee at 18

Alex Ceballos, the youngest arrestee, 18

The operation was part of the Coachella Police Department’s periodically recurring “Operation Safe Coachella,”  an  ongoing effort to conduct proactive, preventive, and post-crime investigative operations to combat crime.

“Operation Safe Coachella 16.1” netted the arrest of 25 suspects (17-felonies & 8-misdemeanor arrests). Four firearms were recovered along with over three ounces of suspected methamphetamine, over a pound of suspected marijuana, and over ten-thousand dollars of US Currency.

According to Riverside Sheriff’s Department press release, the following individuals were arrested:

  1. Noe Castro, Age 33 of Coachella, arrested for Possession of Methamphetamine for Sale
  2. Arturo Aguilar, age 38, of Coachella, arrested for being a felon in possession of a firearm
  3. Salvador Amezquita, age 21, of Coachella, arrested for being a felon in possession of a firearm
  4. Richard Carmona, age 53, of Coachella, arrested for Possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia
  5. Alex Ceballos, age 18, of Coachella, arrested for vehicle theft and possession of a stolen vehicle
  6. Steven Benavidez, age 33, of Coachella, arrested for outstanding DUI warrant
  7. Manuel Jacquez, age 25, of Indio, arrested for Parolee at Large warrant
  8. Ray Carmona, age 21, of Coachella, arrested for traffic warrant
  9. Jose Hernandez, age 63, of Coachella, arrested for Possession of Drug paraphernalia
  10. Brandon Miramontes, age 20, of Indio, arrested for outstanding robbery warrant
  11. Augustine Lopez, age 24, of Coachella, arrested for outstanding robbery warrant and possession of firearm
  12. Bryanna Lopez, age 22, of Coachella, arrested for possession of a stolen vehicle
  13. Richard Moreno, age 25, of Coachella, arrested for marijuana for sales and child endangerment
  14. Sergio Morin, age 33, of Coachella, arrested for felon in possession of ammunition and drug paraphernalia.
  15. Jose Islas, age 37, of Indio, arrested for outstanding battery warrant
  16. Cirilo Vega, age 39, of Coachella, arrested for felon in possession of ammunition and violation of probation.
  17. Pedro Tomayo, age 23, of Coachella, arrested for possession of suspected cocaine
  18. Ralph Rivas, age 43, of Coachella, arrested for felon in possession of ammunition
  19. Pedro Morin, age 50, of Coachella, arrested for felon in possession of a firearm
  20. Martha Durinzi, age 29, of Coachella, arrested for parolee at large warrant
  21. Javier Taylor, age 31, of Thermal, arrested for outstanding felony burglary warrant
  22. Alejandro Reyes, age 41, of Indio, arrested for possession of heroin
  23. Richard Sanchez, age 28, of Desert Hot Springs, arrested for DUI warrant
  24. Gabriel Salazar, age 31, of La Quinta, arrested for possession of methamphetamine for sales
  25. Juan Mange, age 37, of Indio, arrested for possession of methamphetamine for sales
Twenty-Five Arrested in “Operation Safe Coachella” was last modified: January 14th, 2019 by admin
Categories: Riverside

About Author

Rebecca O'Connor

Rebecca K. O’Connor is a freelance writer, copywriter and author of several books in addition to her work with United Reporting. She blogs for National Geographic as well as her own sites and is always looking for the next great story.