Press Releases By Category. "I'm greatly encouraged by the possibility and potential of justice," Riverside County . Prior to working in the Riverside County Sheriff's Office, Deputy Calhoun spent two years working for the San Diego Police Department, the Riverside County Sheriffs Office shared. The original item was published from 2/25/2021 5:01:20 PM to 2/27/2021 7:50:03 PM. 0:00. Bianco, who didnt require jail employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and once said If you are afraid to go to jail and catch the virus, then dont go to jail, dont break the law, defended the quality of care provided to inmates at the time. The Riverside Sheriffs' Association tweeted, "It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Deputy Darnell Calhoun. Reporting Deputy: Sergeant Jeff Reese File # L222630043 . They have drug addictions or mental health issues and they arent getting proper medical treatment.. That year, Riverside County had a rate of 3 in every 1,000 die. If you would like to make a donation to the Calhoun family. Anyone with information relevant to the investigation can contact the California Department of Justices Civil Rights Enforcement Section atPolice-Practices@doj.ca.gov. The editorial board and opinion section staff are independent of the news-gathering side of our organization. ACLU joins calls for outside investigation of deaths in Riverside County jails, Riverside sheriff failed to report inmate deaths to state on time; names of dead made public, The Desert Sun found last year that Bianco's department broke the law when it failed to report some inmates' deaths to the state Department of Justice, Santa Clara Sheriff Laurie Smith was convicted in a civil corruption trial, sent a letter to the attorney general and the county's board of supervisors, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Concern about inmate care in the countys jails is not new. 4 min read As President Biden escalates his administration's efforts to. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here. Deputy Isaiah Cordero was honored by family, friends, and colleagues during a memorial service jushttps://twitter.com/RSO/status/1614066032800583680t last week. The Riverside County District Attorneys Office declined to file charges against the five deputies involved, though an autopsy by the Riverside County Coroners Office determined their actions contributed to Serranos death by overdose. If you are interested in a career with us, please apply at joinrsd.org or call 1-888-Join-RSD, Attempt Murder Domestic Violence / Strangulation, Convicted Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Checkpoint, Sales of Narcotics/Possession of Loaded Firearm, Message from the Family of Deputy Darnell Calhoun, Public Intoxication/Failing to Register as a Sex Offender. This site is not monitored 24/7, in case of an emergency call 911. The suspect was ultimately wounded and taken into custody. All Californians deserve fairness and respect from the institutions that serve them,said Attorney General Bonta. Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco will hold a news conference at 9:00 p.m. in Wildomar. The California attorney generals civil rights investigation into the Riverside County Sheriffs Department provides long-overdue oversight and accountability for the countys largest law enforcement agency, say frequent critics of the department and its elected leader, Sheriff Chad Bianco. The deputy was rushed to Riverside Community Hospital where he was pronounced dead. If you are interested in a career with us, please apply . Upon arrival, they located an adult male and female juvenile unresponsive due to a suspected Fentanyl overdose. Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. 09/04/2016 - Shooting Investigation Continues. Deputies arrived and located the female who had sustained several stab wounds. Lisa Matus heard about her son's death from her other son, who was also in custody. riverside county ccw letter of. On Friday, November 15, 2019, at 5:50 PM, deputies from the San Jacinto Station responded to a call of an assault with a deadly weapon in the 100 Block of Jordan Ave in the city of San Jacinto. In Sept 2021, the ACLU wrote a letter to the AG calling for an investigation on the Riverside County Sheriff's Dept. Deputies arrived and had to use force to restrain him, Bianco said at the time. During elections, we meet with candidates for office and the proponents and opponents of ballot initiatives and then make recommendations to voters. Stay with News Channel 3 for any updates. This investigation is ongoing. The Riverside County Sheriff's Hazardous Device Team responded to the location and took possession of the explosive materials. The Riverside County Sheriff's Department said in a statement . Attorney General Rob Bonta announced that a civil rights investigation is being opened into Riverside County Sheriff's Department (RSO). Bonta has repeatedly shown he bows and caters to activists instead of hearing from all Californians who the attorney general is supposed to represent, the sheriff said. Whether you have a loved one in jail or are worried about crime in your neighborhood, we all benefit when there is action to ensure the integrity of policing in our state.". The investigation reve On February 23, 2023, members of the Thermal Station Special Investigations Unit and the Fugitives & Warrants Enforcement Team were investigating a robbery in the 50200 block of South Ba On January 12, 2023, Thermal Station patrol units responded to Bagdouma Park in the city of Coachella regarding a robbery and assault with a deadly weapon. Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Community Guidelines, EEO Report | FCC Applications | Do Not Sell My Personal Information, Daily News Headlines The county paid $136,000 to settle a federal civil rights suit filed by Chen-Chen Hwang, 67, and her husband, Jiun-Tsong Wu, 75, states a news release from their . Hes also lucked out on having a board of supervisors happy to go along and get along without providing any meaningful oversight.. If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here. The driver was identified as Larry Delgado, a 38-year-old resident of Riverside. Sheriff's Administration Posted on: January 14, 2023 Deputy Involved Shooting. Kathy Nigro's son Michael Vasquez, 20, died mere days after being arrested. (File photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG) Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 100 times stronger than . The Sheriff's Department described the deadly encounter in a news release: "On January 13, 2023, about 4:20 pm, Deputy Darnell Calhoun responded to the 18000 block of Hilldale Lane, in the . Attorney General Rob Bonta announced that a civil rights investigation is being opened into Riverside County Sheriff's Department (RSO). The deaths have been very tragic, and the circumstances as to how the drugs are making it into the jails are suspicious and deserving of further in-depth review, said Jeffries, the boards 2022 chairperson. Palm Desert Station Posted on: March 3, 2023 Update - Fatal Traffic Collision. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) By The Editorial Board | opinion@scng.com | We will be completely open, honest, and share everything we can with our community throughout this investigation because we have serious concerns that Bontas DOJ will not.". Michael Lujan, a 31-year department veteran who commanded the Lake Elsinore station, has paid a filing fee and received paperwork to run for sheriff, according to Registrar of Voters Rebecca Spencer. Riverside County that April submitted a plan that included changes in housing, sanitation practices and personal hygiene. The Riverside County Sheriffs Central Homicide Unit responded and assumed the investigation. Press Releases. Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and his wife, Denise Bianco, enjoy the Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023, ceremony at which he was sworn in for a second term on the steps of the Riverside Historic Courthouse. The sheriff's news releases, however, had announced. County Supervisor Kevin Jeffries said he is concerned by the jail deaths, including those from drug overdoses, and hopes the attorney general's investigation will find solutions. Riverside County Sheriff , state California ( By Press Release office) Feb 17,2023 Reporting Deputy: Sergeant Ignacio Robles File # EV230470055 Details: On February 16 , 2023 , about 6:35 PM , deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff's Office , Jurupa Valley Station , responded to the report of a major - injury traffic collision at the . "The attorney general's announcement affirms what families impacted by sheriff's violence have long demanded," said Luis Nolasco, senior policy advocate with the ACLU. Concealed Weapon Permit (CCW) Press Releases. (File photo by Andrew Foulk, Contributing Photographer), In an image from a Riverside County sheriffs deputys uniform-worn camera video, deputies hold down Ernie Serrano after placing a mask on him to prevent him from spitting on them at the Stater Bros. in Jurupa Valley on Dec. 15, 2020. Wildomar man arrested on suspicion of. Big Bear Lake. As a reminder, Community Policing involves partnerships between law enforcement and community members. This is an active investigation and no additional details are currently available. The editorials are unsigned because, while written by one or more members of our staff, they represent the point of view of our news organizations management. Riverside County Sheriff , state California ( By Press Release office) Feb 15,2023 Reporting Deputy: Sergeant Reynoso File # A230290023 Details: The Colorado River Station Special Enforcement Team ( SET ) and Investigations Bureau developed suspect information for a robbery that occurred at the Mesa Drive Valero Gas Station on January 29 , 2023 . Everything you need to be ready to step out prepared. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact Investigator Leone at the Lake Elsinore Sheriffs Station at (951) 2453300. Over the next several months, the investigation was relentlessly worked and a suspect, Kevin Bryant (51 years old) from Carlsbad, was identified as being the suspect responsible for selling the Fentanyl that killed Trask. : CVRI2101557. Jeff Horseman grew up in Vermont and honed his interviewing skills as a supermarket cashier by asking Bernie Sanders Paper or plastic? After graduating from Syracuse University in 1999, Jeff began his journalistic odyssey at The Watertown Daily Times in upstate New York, where he impressed then-U.S. Senate candidate Hillary Clinton so much she called him John at the end of an interview. He similarly announced a pattern and practice investigation of the Santa Clara Sheriff's Office in January 2022, citing concerns about its management of county jails. See press release for full route. New group aims to oust Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco in 2022 A political action committee formed earlier this year with the goal of unseating Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, seen Feb. 22, 2021, in the 2022 election. Im greatly encouraged by the possibility and potential of justice, Riverside County Democratic Party Chair Joy Silver, who helped form an anti-Bianco political action committee, said Thursday, Feb. 23, the same day Attorney General Rob Bonta announced his probe. Humberto Guizar, the attorney representing the family of a man who died in sheriffs custody in 2020, praised Bonta for starting the investigation to provide transparency on how the department operates. He can be reached at christopher.damien@desertsun.com or follow him at @chris_a_damien. "We have absolutely nothing to hide and will be more than cooperative and accommodation with this investigation," Bianco said. The investigation follows 18 reported deaths last year double the countys per-year average in the countys five jails. Coachella and La Quinta, Calif. The Riverside County Sheriffs Office, is reminding football fans to stick to the &ld On January 7, 2023, the John Benoit Detention Centers Correctional Intelligence Bureau (CIB) contacted the Thermal Station Investigations Bureau regarding intercepted mail satura On Tuesday, January 24, 2023, at 5:24 PM, deputies from the Thermal Sheriff's Station responded to the area of Costa Mesa Drive and Avenue 68, in North Shore, regarding a drowning On Saturday, January 21, 2023, at 3:23 PM, deputies from the Thermal Station responded to a call of a deceased male in the 67900 block of Nina Drive in the unincorporated area of Thermal. Unfortunately, it is clear that amid concerning levels of in-custody deaths and allegations of misconduct too many families and communities in Riverside County are hurting and looking for answers. If you have a question or story idea about politics or the inner workings of government, please let Jeff know. The investigation will determine if the agency engaged in a pattern of unconstitutional policing. The California attorney general has launched an investigation into whether Riverside County Sheriff's Department practices have violated civil rights, citing a sharp and "disturbing . Phillips, dissatisfied with the countys response to the courts questions about how inmates were being protected, threatened to order inmates transferred unless the county provided an acceptable plan. RELATED: State launches investigation into death rate in Riverside County jails, Bonta has shown great courage in taking (these types of) issues on and it does restore my faith in justice, thats for sure, Silver said, adding she hopes the investigation brings some oversight of the department because we dont have that in Riverside County.. In September, the group also sent a letter to the attorney general and the county's board of supervisors asking for outside investigations of the deaths and to create a separate coroner's office to investigate them in the future. Posted on: December 8, 2022 Storage Unit Burglary Series Suspect Arrested. A veteran with the Riverside County Sheriff's Department was shot and killed in Jurupa Valley Thursday afternoon by a career criminal who later died following a chase with law enforcement,. Morning Forecast On February 26, 2023, ODIN personnel located Bryant at the San Ysidro Port of Entry and took him into custody without incident. Calhoun began working as a Riverside County Sheriff's Deputy on February 24, 2022. A fair, unbiased investigation of the jail system will reveal no systematic mistreatment of inmates by Riverside County Sheriff employees.. As an elected official, Bianco, who was re-elected in 2022 with 61% of the vote and is beloved by many conservatives, has wide latitude to run his department. Most people being held in the county's five jails are awaiting trial. The county executive office oversees departments that arent run by elected leaders. Last September, this editorial board called for an investigation into the Riverside County Sheriffs Department, noting, [Sheriff Chad]Bianco lucked out having no serious competition in the most recent election. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriffs Homicide Tipline online form. Get the Gunzenhausen, Bavaria, Germany local hourly forecast including temperature, RealFeel, and chance of precipitation. For media inquiries regarding this incident please contact the Media Information Bureau. The Riverside County Sheriffs Department encourages anyone with information or video regarding the incident to contact Central Homicide Investigator Button at (760) 3933531 or (951) 9552777. A search warrant was authored and served at Delgados residence in the 8600 block of Merrick Street in the city of Riverside. letter_to_ag_bonta_-_investigation_of_rsd4-2. The Attorney General's office noted that Bonta is authorized to conduct civil investigations into whether a law enforcement agency has engaged in a pattern or practice of violating state or federal law. As an additional deputy arrived, the suspect engaged him with gunfire as well. The Sheriff's Department described the deadly encounter in a news release: "On January 13, 2023, about 4:20 pm, Deputy Darnell Calhoun responded to the 18000 block of Hilldale Lane, in the unincorporated area of Lakeland Village, regarding an unknown trouble. That's the same number that triggered an investigation by the California State Auditor of the San Diego County Sheriff's Department in 2021, which found that a county oversight board was lacking and, in part, recommended the attorney general's office expand its role there. Last month, this editorial board called on the Riverside County Board of Supervisors to establish an oversight body over the sheriffs department. Headquarters and Specialized Divisions. In-Custody Deaths Posted on: December 29, 2022 2022-10962. Homicide charges have been filed against Miranda and Mora and both remain in custody. Be the first to know when news breaks in Coachella Valley. For media inquiries regarding this incident please contact the Media Information Bureau. (File photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley DailyBulletin/SCNG). The Riverside County Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force is asking anyone with additional information to contact RCAHT Task Force Deputy Contreras at (760) 836-1600 or call anonymously at (760) 341-STOP (7867) and reference incident # R20 248 0002. We are devastated to announce the passing of Deputy Darnell Calhoun who was killed in the line of duty this afternoon. For media inquiries regarding this incident please contact the Media Information Bureau. The Desert Sun newspaper has done a stellar job of tracking not only an unusual spike in Riverside County jail deaths last year, but also pointing out the secretive nature of the Sheriffs Department. The department tweeted that Deputy Terrell Young was its first member to succumb to the virus. After Serrano said I cant breathe, he stopped breathing and died. Unfortunately, it is clear that amid concerning levels of in-custody deaths and allegations of misconduct too many families and communities in Riverside County are hurting and looking for answers. The decedent was identified as a 16 year old female from French Valley. Young battled symptoms of COVID-19 for a week before his death, Sheriff Chad . March 2, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. 03/23/2017 - Missing Children. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact Investigator Leone at the Lake Elsinore Sheriff's Station at (951) 245-3300. This investigation is ongoing and anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact Investigator Garcia-Flores at 951-955-1700. Business owners and residents are encouraged to report criminal activity directly to law enforcement by calling Sheriffs Dispatch at (951) 7761099 or 911 if the matter is an emergency. 334-0407, mariomoreno@rivcoda.org or Riverside County Sheriff's Investigator Jarred Bishop at 951-955-1700. Riverside County supervisors got in-depth briefs from sheriffs executive staff on the overdose deaths, the smuggling of drugs into the jails, a review of the reporting requirements for the department, Supervisor Kevin Jeffries said via email. The Riverside County Sheriff's Department, located in Southern California, is reeling following the death of two of its deputies Darnell Calhoun and Isaiah Cordero who were killed in. Elias Miranda, 21-year-old resident of San Jacinto and Ramon Mora, 41-year-old resident of San Jacinto, were both already in custody for unrelated charges. Investigators with the Riverside County Sheriff's Department have identified the suspect as Jesse Navarro, 42-year-old resident of Lake Elsinore. The male was revived; however, the female was pronounced deceased by hospital staff. Deputies arrived and located the female who had sustained several stab wounds. On February 24, 2023, at 12:00 pm, the Lake Elsinore Station Special Enforcement Team (SET) deputies conducted a traffic enforcement stop in the 20000 block of Van Buren Avenue in the city of Riverside. Riverside County Coroner - In Custody Death Information Release: Coroner's Case Number: 2022-10962: County of Death: Riverside: Agency with Custodial Responsibility: Riverside County Sheriff's Department: Location of Death: Riverside Community Hospital 4445 Magnolia . If you are interested in a career with us, please apply at joinrsd.org or call 1-888-Join-RSD. Contests & Promotions Press Releases A A Special Investigations Bureau 2 Stories Posted on: February 1, 2023 Operation Reclaim and Rebuild 2023 Reporting Deputy: Sergeant Jeff Hammond File # N/A Details: During the week of January 23, 2023, the Riverside County Sheriff's Office participated in Operation Reclaim & Rebuild. On January 16, 2023, at 1:46 AM, deputies from the Thermal Sheriffs Station responded to the 91000 block of 6 Street, in the unincorporated area of Mecca, regarding an assault with Juvenile in Possession of an Un-Serialized Firearm Arrest, Traveling Thieves Targeting Vulnerable Community Members, Sending Drugs into a Correctional Facility. The name of the decedent is not being released at this time. Riverside County sheriff's deputy killed; suspect dead after pursuit A Riverside County Sheriff's deputy wipes his eye as he stands near the corner of Golden West Ave and Condor Drive in Jurupa Valley Thursday, Dec. 29, 2022 following the fatal shooting of a deputy near the area. The investigation will determine if the agency engaged. Bianco administers both the sheriff's department's Corrections Operations and its Coroner's Bureau, which conducts the in-custody death investigations. For media inquiries regarding this incident please contact the Media Information Bureau. Deputy Calhoun sustained life threatening injuries and was rushed to a local area hospital by sheriffs deputies. Desert - (760) 956-5001 (File photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG), The California attorney generals civil rights probe of the Riverside County Sheriffs Department announced Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023, does restore my faith in justice, thats for sure, county Democratic Party Chair Joy Silver said. The Desert Sun found last year that Bianco's department broke the law when it failed to report some inmates' deaths to the state Department of Justice within 10 days. In 31 of those cases, the victims were not perceived to be armed with a firearm, bringing into question whether RSD used deadly force only when necessary or in defense of life, as required by law., In the years 2013 to 2021, RSD deputies killed more people in the course of making arrests than almost all (92%) of California sheriffs departments., Despite increases in funding, the RSD solved fewer homicides than 72% of sheriff departments in the state.. We hope that this will lead to meaningful accountability and oversight over a department rife with in-custody deaths of county residents.. The announcement comes as 20 inmates have died in the county's jails since January 2022, often with the sheriff's department releasing scant information about the individuals and virtually no public discussion of how to stop further loss of life. The guard tased Serrano to no effect. 09/29/2016 - Johnson County Sheriff's Office Updates Text Alert System on Website. Contests & Promotions For media inquiries regarding this incident please contact the Media Information Bureau. Download the News Channel 3 app here. He was assigned to the Lake Elsinore Station. The shooting happened on the 18500 block of Hilldale Lane in the unincorporated community of Lakeland Village. Thursday was the attorney general's first acknowledgement that an investigation is underway. "This announcement comes as a shock but at the same time, should have been expected from our California DOJ and the attorney general who cares more about politics than he does about transparency or the truth", "This investigation is based on nothing but false and misleading statements and straight out lies from activists including their attorneys," Bianco said. In April 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic took hold, Prison Law Office asked U.S. District Court Judge Virginia A. Phillips to enforce the terms of the settlement. This is an active investigation and no additional details are currently available. By Kim Jarrell Johnson. Breaking News If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here. Bonta said Thursday that his office could request that a court order changes to how the department operates if problems are found. Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, seen Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022, said the investigation of his department by the California attorney generals office is a politically motivated stunt. On Friday, January 13th, 2023, Deputy Darnell Calhoun made the ultimate sacrifice." That lawsuit was settled in 2015. Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. A Riverside County sheriff's deputy died Thursday morning from complications of the coronavirus, the latest sign of how law enforcement is being hit hard by the outbreak. Deputies put a spit mask on Serrano and placed him face down on a checkout counter. Most recently, several families, and advocacy groups, including the ACLU of Southern California and Starting Over Inc. sent a letter to the California Board of State and Community Corrections, the agency that inspects local jails. Bonta noted he assumed an investigation of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, and accountability actions in connection with the Torrance and Bakersfield police departments. And public calls for more information about the increased rate of death have been met with virtual silence from the sheriff's department and county officials. The California attorney general's civil rights investigation into the Riverside County Sheriff's Department provides long-overdue oversight and accountability for the county's largest law enforcement agency, say frequent critics of the department and its elected leader, Sheriff Chad Bianco. Bonta said the Riverside County Sheriff's Dept. The agency confirmed a suspect is in custody. Among the major stories he has covered are destructive wildfires, Christopher Dorner's rampage, the San Bernardino terrorist attack, Chase Merritt murder trial and the Perris torture case. Saturday, January 14, 2023 Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov OAKLAND California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued the following statement on the death of Riverside County Sheriff's Deputy Darnell Calhoun, who died in the line of duty on Friday, January 13, 2023: In a statement through a spokesperson, county CEO Jeff Van Wagenen, who reports to the board of supervisors, said: "The county will fully cooperate and provide any information that is available. Members of the public may also send information to the California Department of Justice in other languages. The investigation affirms what families impacted by sheriffs violence have long demanded, Luis Nolasco, a senior policy advocate and organizer at the Southern California ACLU, said via email. This shooting comes a little over 15 days after another Riverside County Sheriff's deputy was shot and killed during a traffic stop in Jurupa Valley. The following Official Arrest Record for Aaron Ferrel is being redistributed by LCN and is protected by constitutional, publishing, and other legal rights. He was identified by the agency as Deputy Darnell Calhoun.