STAFF REPORTS
The following is a crime recap for the month of July in the Cities of Eastvale, Corona, Norco, and Jurupa Valley. Information is from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department and from our Eastvale Community News Facebook Page.
On Tues., July 15 about 11:45 a.m., deputies assigned to the Jurupa Valley Station, Norco Sheriff’s Office, responded to the 2200 block of Vista Ridge in the city of Norco. This was in reference to a stolen vehicle investigation. Upon arriving, deputies located the stolen vehicle parked in the driveway of a residence. As the deputies continued with their investigation, they were able to locate and identify the suspects, who were found hiding in the residence. Lawrence Piper, 30, was arrested for possession of stolen property, burglary, and two felony warrants for parole violations; Julie Stewart, 28, was arrested for possession of stolen property, burglary, and a felony warrant for possession of controlled substance; and Tayler Jenkins, 23, was arrested for possession of methamphetamine and violation of probation.
On July 18, at about 1:30 p.m., members of the Riverside Sheriff’s Special Investigation Bureau, along with deputies assigned to the Norco Sheriff’s Office, served a search warrant in the 3700 block of California Avenue, in the city of Norco. The search warrant was the result of an investigation into an illegal outdoor marijuana grow operation at the location. During the search warrant service, over 400 marijuana plants were located and seized. The subsequent investigation resulted in the arrest of two adult suspects, identified as Israel Martinez, 49, and Wilivaldo Arteaga Martinez, 34, residents from the city of Ontario. They were each booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center (RPDC) for marijuana cultivation and conspiracy charges.
On Sat., July 19, at approximately 8:30 a.m., officers from the Jurupa Valley Police Department responded to an assault with a deadly weapon report in the 3400 block of Skylane Drive. At the scene officers found Simona Mateas, 43, lying in the driveway suffering from gunshot wounds. There was reportedly a second victim at the home as well. Both were transported to a local hospital where Mateas succumbed to her injuries. The San Bernardino Police Department was dispatched later in the day responding to a suicide report, whereby Ayram Mateas, the husband of Simona, was found deceased inside the front door of a residence in the 1600 block of West Lincoln Avenue in San Bernardino. Upon further investigation it was found that the Mateas couple had been going through divorce proceedings, which may have instigated the murder/suicide.
On Sunday, July 20, two women were killed in a fiery crash on the I-15 freeway in the early morning hours. According to the California Highway Patrol, Julio Reyes, 34, of Riverside, was driving a black 2014 Lexus sedan while he was traveling southbound at alleged speeds of over 100 mph near Hidden Valley Parkway in Corona, when he slammed into the back of a silver Toyota. The Toyota burst into flames and both women were pronounced dead at the scene. Reyes was found by officers to be under the influence of alcohol and was he arrested on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, and drunken driving causing bodily injury. Reyes and two other passengers in his car sustained minor injuries. The names of the women have not yet been released.
