Staff Reports
Eastvale- The following crime incidents have been reported by the Riverside County Sheriff Department and by residents on our Eastvale News Facebook page (www.facebook.com/Eastvale CommunityNews). Our Facebook page is used to inform the community about crimes happening in the City, so we can work together to report suspicious activity to the Sheriff’s Department in order to keep crime low. Here is a recap of the local crime last month.
On Dec. 13, 2013, shortly before 7:30 a.m., a home in the 14000 block of Vernal Springs Court in the City of Eastvale erupted into flames. Five engines, including a hook-and-ladder, as well as other fire personnel and numerous Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the blaze. Employees of Southern California Edison were also on scene. Later, Sheriff’s investigators obtained a search warrant and seized 645 marijuana plants. Upon further discovery, they confirmed that electricity was being bypassed illegally around the meter, which may have been the cause of the fire. This case is still under investigation.
On Dec. 16, 2013, Eastvale Police Officers investigated a series of thefts at the 7100 block of Cornflower Ct., in Eastvale. The investigation revealed that several unknown suspects approached several residences on Cornflower Ct. and opened several unlocked vehicles parked in the driveway of the residences. The unknown suspects stole car audio speakers, amplifiers, an Apple iPod and a miscellaneous amount of currency from the vehicles. The suspects fled the location on foot and subsequently entered an unknown make, color and model sport utility vehicle. A suspect named Cody Ridley, 18, was arrested on Dec. 17, 2013. The case has been forwarded to the district attorney for further action. For more information about this crime, read the story on page 1.
On Dec. 20, 2013, a local resident residing on Elmgrove in Eastvale was cited with an $1,800 citation for failing to turn down their music after officers gave two warnings. The residents were hosting a “Twerk for Santa” party that had been advertised all over various social media outlets. According to an officer at the scene, the party seemed to be attended by over 100 young high school students and quickly got out of control. The Eastvale Police were called out after local neighbors reported hearing gun shots that sounded like “fireworks”. Officers canvassed the neighborhood with K9’s and found at least three small caliber bullet shells near a parked vehicle. A resident on the scene reported seeing car loads of teenage boys fleeing the scene, slowing down and switching passengers in the vehicles. The Eastvale Police Department responded quickly and gathered evidence, questioned neighbors and party goers. One officer told our reporter on the scene that there did not appear to be any injuries as there had not been any blood found on the scene. The party was closed down and cleared out before 1 a.m.
On Dec. 21, 2013 from 7 p.m. – 3 a.m. on Limonite Avenue, west of Hamner Avenue, a DUI/Driver’s license safety checkpoint was held with Deputy Kelly Howell as the reporting officer. The Eastvale Police Department completed this checkpoint in order to screen for DUI drivers as well as unlicensed and suspended drivers. Over 1,400 vehicles passed through the checkpoint, with the following results:
• 0 DUI arrests
• 12 Field sobriety tests for DUI of alcohol
• 0 Field sobriety tests for DUI of drugs
• 18 Citations were issued for unlicensed drivers
• 6 Citations were issued for suspended driver’s license
• 2 Citations for vehicle code violations
• 5 Vehicles towed
During the checkpoint hours, patrol officers were in the vicinity contacting the public for vehicle code violations. Out of those contacts, no DUI arrests were made, and 26 citations were issued. These numbers are included in the overall operation results listed above.
The checkpoint was conducted with the assistance of the Jurupa Valley Station’s K9 Team, Special Enforcement Team, and volunteers. In addition, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department/Crime Analyst Unit was on scene to assist the Eastvale Police Department in processing the larger than normal volume of citations, towing records, arrest/incident reports and computer checks of various law enforcement databases. Also, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department/Cal-ID staff was on scene assisting the Eastvale Police Department to verify the identity of those subjects arrested by utilizing their mobile identification processing system.
On Dec.26, 2013, a resident informed us via Facebook that their community cluster mailboxes were stolen in the Orchard neighborhood with cross streets Limonite & Sumner. The entire unit was removed and only the base was left. This case is currently being investigated and residents were informed by USPS that it is their responsibility to replace the unit.
