Cathedral City Police Nab 4 On Multiple Charges

CATHEDRAL CITY – Three adult males and one juvenile, all from Cathedral City, were arrested Tuesday, Nov. 26 in connection with the assault of an unarmed adult male inside a local business in the 34000 Block of Date Palm Drive. According to Cathedral City Police Commander Paul Herrera.

Those arrested were: Jose Mercado, 26; Juan Reyes Jr., 18; Daniel Mares, 24; and an unnamed 14-year-old juvenile.

On Nov. 23, Cathedral City Police Department officers investigated an aggravated assault case in which four males physically assaulted the adult male. During the assault, the victim received serious injuries to his face and upper body.  The suspects fled the scene prior to the officers’ arrival.

Police officers were able to identify the suspects involved in the assault. Cathedral City Police Detectives continued the investigation and prepared search warrants for the suspects involved in the case.

On Tuesday, Nov. 26. detectives – along with officers and investigators from the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office Gang Impact Team and the Eastern Riverside County PACT  served search warrants at three locations in Riverside County: The 67000 Block of Mission Drive in Cathedral City, the 68000 Block of Ocotillo Road in Cathedral City, and the 54000 Block of Kindale in the unincorporated area of Whitewater.

At these locations, the four suspects were taken into custody without incident and placed under arrest.  Evidence linking them to the above incident was located at the residences where warrants were served.  The four suspects are facing multiple charges, including but not limited to: Entering a business for the purpose of committing a felony crime, false imprisonment, felony assault with great bodily injury, conspiracy to commit a felony, and the commission of a crime while on probation.

Bail amounts have not yet been released. The investigation has revealed the arrestees are suspected gang-members and the crime is being investigated as gang-related.

The Gang Impact Team is staffed with investigators and agents from the Riverside District Attorney’s Office; Homeland Security Investigations; U.S. Border Patrol; California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitations Special Services Unit; and Detectives from the Hemet, Palm Springs, Corona, Beaumont, Cathedral City, Banning, and Desert Hot Springs Police Departments.

PACT is currently comprised of Task Force Officers from Riverside County Sheriff, Palm Springs Police Department, Cathedral City Police Department and Riverside County Probation.

The Cathedral City Police Department wants to thank the community and individuals that contributed leads and information that assisted in the identification and capture of these individuals. If anyone believes they have additional information for investigators, please contact CCPD Detective Sergeant Sanchez at 760-770-0308 or the Cathedral City Police Dept. at cathedralcitypolice.com