Gang Members Arrested During Search Warrant

Gang members arrested on multiple charges

COACHELLA — At 6 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 22, Gang Task Force Officers arrested documented gang member and convicted felon Francisco Romero, 42 of Coachella for felon in possession of a firearm, felon in possession of ammunition and possession of unregistered firearm.

Gang Task Force Officers also arrested Andres Alarcon, 35 of Coachella for possession of assault rifle / short barrel rifle and possession of unregistered firearm. Both Romero and Alarcon were subsequently booked at John Benoit Detention Center in Indio.

A United States Border Patrol Agent assigned to Gang Task Force took custody of documented gang member and convicted felon Rene Hernandez, 21 of El Salvador for a Federal Immigration Arrest Warrant. Hernandez was subsequently transported to a federal holding facility for processing.

If it seems as there are more gang arrests this year, it’s not your imagination.

“Our office shows that the total number of dispositions from our Gang Unit from January 2020 to end of August 2020 are at 139,” John Hall, Public Information Officer for the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office, told Uken Report. “The total number of new cases assigned to the Gang Unit are 250. Our Gang Unit has seen an overall increase of almost 16% in cases compared to 2019.”

On Tuesday, the Coachella Valley Violent Crime Gang Task Force (CVVCGTF) with the assistance of Riverside County Sheriff’s Department SWAT, United States Border Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC), and the Coachella Community Action Team, served search warrants at three residences located in the 51000 block of Douma Street, the 52000 block of Calle Empalme, and the 53000 block of Cesar Chavez Street in the city of Coachella.

During the service of the search warrants Gang Task Force Officers located an unregistered 9mm semi-automatic handgun and a loaded .762 caliber short barrel rifle (Draco) with 30-round magazine. Gang Task Force Officers also located an upper receiver to an AR-15 rifle, ammunition, suspected methamphetamine and marijuana.

The Coachella Valley Violent Crime Gang Task Force is committed to creating safe and secure neighborhoods free of violent crime and gang activity. If you have any information about this crime, please contact CVVCGTF member Officer James at (760) 836-1600. If you have non-emergency information regarding gang activity, please use our online Gang Task Force Tip Form or call 951-922-7601.