Two Arrested for Robbery and Assault in Santa Ana River Bottom Encampment
Two individuals were arrested following a month-long investigation by members of the Wildland Public Safety Engagement Team (PSET) into a robbery and assault incident that occurred in the Santa Ana River bottom on January 31st. The victims of this crime were living in an encampment when they were approached and assaulted by two other homeless individuals armed with pellet rifles. The assailants, identified as 39-year-old April Hoff and 40-year-old Reynaldo Ungos, both convicted felons, subsequently fled with the victim’s belongings. The victim received medical treatment for injuries sustained during the assault.
The breakthrough came on March 6th when the Wildland PSET Team, aided by the Urban PSET Team, located Hoff and Ungos in a nearby encampment. During the operation, officers recovered some of the stolen property, a P-80 handgun also known as a “ghost gun,” ammunition, gun magazines, and over 40 grams of suspected methamphetamine.
Both suspects were charged with robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, and violations related to illegal narcotics and weapons. They are currently detained with bail set at $65,000 each. The Wildland PSET Team, which includes officers from various departments including the Riverside Police, Fire Arson Investigators, Code Enforcement, and Homeless Outreach, alongside a clinician from Riverside County Mental Health, focuses on addressing issues within homeless communities in both urban and wildland settings, such as the Santa Ana River bottom.
