Hemet crackdown results in 47 arrests; 77 weapons seized

Law enforcement officials displayed some of the weapons seized during a gang crackdown in Hemet. Menifee 24/7 photo: Doug Spoon

A coordinated effort among local, county and federal law enforcement agencies has resulted in the arrest of 47 suspected gang members and other criminals in the Hemet and San Jacinto areas, including 23 in one day, officials said today.

During a news conference at the Hemet Police Department, police chief Dave Brown announced that using 400 officers from various agencies serving warrants at 58 separate locations at 6 a.m. today, about half of that total of 47 arrests were made in what he called "the largest single-day joint takedown in the history of Southwest Riverside County."

The combined effort was the latest action in a seven-month investigation dubbed Operation Valley Vigilance, an operation coordinated by the Riverside County District Attorney's Office through a task force known as the Gang Impact Team.

Officials have not yet released a complete list of those arrested, and there was no indication that any are residents of Menifee. However, District Attorney Mike Hestrin acknowledged that the criminal activity of these suspects in the San Jacinto Valley had become a serious threat to all of Riverside County.

"In the face of growing crime, public disorder and seemingly pervasive disrespect and disregard for the rule of law, today we showed that we are indeed fighting back against lawlessness," Hestrin said. "The message to criminals should be clear and unambiguous. We will be smart, we will be determined, we will be patient, we will be organized, and we will be coming for you. Maybe not today, but soon."

Hestrin said that all 47 arrests were for felony crimes, most involving the use or sale of firearms and/or narcotics. A total of 77 weapons were either seized or purchased by undercover officers. Many were on display at the news conference.

Hestrin said most of the suspects probably will be prosecuted at the state level in Riverside, but he expected "maybe five or six" to be prosecuted in federal court, also in Riverside.

He made it clear that the effects of AB 109 and Prop. 47 in freeing criminals early is an ongoing problem, and that every effort will be made to prosecute suspects at the federal level to extend their prison stay.

"We want the option of putting these dangerous criminals behind bars for as long as possible," Hestrin said. "Where state laws have failed the people of California, federal laws sometimes are applicable. And where they are applicable, we will go down that road.

"AB 109 and Prop. 47 have been a disaster for Riverside County. But we're not going to throw up our hands and say, 'Well, we can't do anything.' I think this shows that we're going to do whatever we can. We're going to take the initiative, we're going to fight back, and where we have to work around these laws that are hampering us, we will."

Agencies involved in the ongoing operation include the Hemet Police Department; Palm Springs Police Department; the DA's Bureau of Investigation; U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives; U.S. Department of Homeland Security; U.S Border Patrol; and the FBI.

"We may never know the number of violent crimes prevented by the removal of these weapons and these violent criminals from our streets, but we are deeply grateful that these criminals and these weapons who possessed them are no longer posing a threat," Brown said.

Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin answers questions during a news conference today.