Red-Tailed Hawks Rescued Amongst Burglars’ Haul of Ghost Guns and Stolen Vehicles
COACHELLA – Search warrants were in order when three agencies – The Coachella Valley Violent Crime Gang Task Force, with assists by the Riverside Auto Theft Interdiction Detail (RAID), and California Department of Fish and Wildlife swooped in at noon on June 2nd.
Their arrivals at a home on the 50000 block of Goya Drive and a Ranch near Dillon Road and Vista Del Norte served warrants for stolen vehicles, seized by Gang Task Force Officers.
The many vehicles included a “Ford F-750 Water Truck, Toy Hauler, Trailer, Honda All Terrain Vehicle, John Deere Gator and a Ditch Witch which had previously been stolen from a local Home Depot,” said Sgt. Paul Heredia. “RAID Officers on scene recovered the stolen vehicles and equipment.”
Inside parked vehicles on the properties, Gang Task Force Officers found two concealed weapons – loaded 9mm semi-automatic handguns – that were ID’d as illegally possessed “Ghost Guns” (non-serialized).
Three Red-Tailed Hawks, “birds of prey, appeared to be living in substandard conditions while being confined to a small cage and being fed a diet of hotdogs and lunch meat,” said Sgt. Heredia. They were cooped-up in the backyard at the residence on Goya Drive.
Gang Task Force Officers rescued and safely turned over the medium-sized Raptors to California Department of Fish and Wildlife for relocation to a rehabilitation center for wild birds.
They then arrested: Eduardo Pantaleon Sr. (48) for Possession of Stolen Vehicles, Felon in Possession of Ammunition, Possession of Birds of Prey and Felony Animal Cruelty.
Also taken in was Eduardo Pantaleon Jr. (18) for Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm.
In addition, Andrew Ochoa (41) was cuffed for Possession of Stolen Vehicles, and for an Outstanding Arrest Warrant: Possession of Narcotics for Sales.
All three of the arrestees were transported to Indio for booking at John Benoit Detention Center.
