March 16, 2008 by Bill Gould, Publisher.

San Jacinto, California - On March 11, 2008, the San Jacinto Problem Oriented Policing Team (POP Team) completed another graffiti investigation resulting in the arrest of a 16 year old male juvenile. The investigation revealed evidence and the identity of the suspect responsible for defacing public and private property since July 2007. The suspect was linked to 645 square feet of graffiti defacement that occurred at 38 different locations around town via the Graffiti Tracker database. The estimated total amount of damage committed by the suspect is in excess of $6,450. The suspect is a student at the San Jacinto High School.


Over the past week, two additional incidents have resulted in the arrest of other “taggers” within the city. One 17 year old male juvenile was observed by district employees damaging San Jacinto High School property on a weekday night. They attempted to stop the suspect, however he fled the campus. An employee observed a San Jacinto patrol unit in the area and notified him of the incident. The patrol officer broadcast a description of the suspect and a perimeter was established around the school.

As a ground search started, the Sheriff Department’s helicopter arrived on scene and located a male matching the suspect description at a nearby by shopping center. POP Team deputies responded and after a short foot pursuit captured the suspect. The suspect was positively identified by District staff and arrested for vandalizing 7 doors on the campus. The juvenile was linked to 2 additional graffiti crimes via the database for an additional 130 square feet of damage. The total amount of damage is estimated at $2,000.

On February 29, at about 10:20 am, patrol officers responded to graffiti vandalism in progress. They located and arrested a 13 year old male for spray painting graffiti on block walls in the area of Sussex Rd. The juvenile was linked to 9 incidents and 135 square feet of damage in the area. The total amount damage is about $1,350.

To date: 20 (19 juveniles and 1 adult) suspects have been identified and linked to more than $63,450 in damage in more than 516 graffiti incidents.

The City of San Jacinto, the San Jacinto Unified School District, San Jacinto Public Works, City Attorney, and the San Jacinto Police Department have joined together to aggressively combat the problem of wanton and willful damage to public and private property. As a reminder, the Graffiti Program telephone numbers are:

Graffiti Removal : 654-4041
Tip & Reward Line: 537-6407

If anyone has additional information regarding this investigation, please contact the San Jacinto Police Department (951) 654-2702.

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March 16, 2008 by Bill Gould, Publisher.

Temecula, California - On Wednesday, March 12, 2008, the Temecula Police Department’s School Resource Officer Team in conjunction with the State Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control agents utilized teenage decoys to solicit the purchase of alcohol products at several retail establishments in the City of Temecula.

The officers and teenage decoys went to 12 locations to conduct compliance checks. One locations sold alcohol to the decoy. The minor decoy was able to purchase alcohol from the following location:

The employee who sold the alcoholic beverage to the minor face fines and or community service. In addition the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control will take administrative action against the business’s liquor license that may include a fine, a suspension of the liquor license or the permanent revocation of the license


We would like to again thank the merchants of our City who did not sell alcoholic beverages to the minors. Their continued support of the well being of the youth of our city is appreciated. The Temecula Police Department’s efforts to deter the unlawful sales of alcohol products, and gain compliance by all merchants will continue and more decoy programs will be conducted on a regular basis.

If citizens observe juveniles purchasing tobacco or alcohol, they are encouraged to call the Temecula Police Department’s non-emergency number 696-HELP and report the incident.

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March 16, 2008 by Bill Gould, Publisher.

Temecula, California - On Tuesday, March 11, 2008, officers from Temecula Police Department’s School Resource Officer Team, Patrol, and the Southwest Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement (SAFE) Task Force, responded to two incidents of attempted kidnapping in the City of Temecula. The first incident was reported about 3:22 PM in the area Cantebury Court and Flag Way. A 13 year old female juvenile was walking home when a male driving a white van stopped near her. The male threatened to shoot the victim if she did not get into his van. The victim ran away and called dispatch. Officers found the juvenile victim and started checking the area for the suspect.


While officers and the Riverside County Sheriff’s Air Unit checked the area for the suspect’s white van, a second incident was reported about 3:48 PM, near Vintage Hills Elementary School. The second incident also involved a white male suspect driving a white van. The male stopped near an 11 year old female and he told her to get into his van several times. The victim got scared and walked away toward her father’s nearby truck. The victim’s father approached the white van and talked to the male suspect. The suspect started to drive away and the victim’s father was able to write down the van’s license plate.

Officers were able to locate the suspect’s van which was found parked at the suspect’s home located in the 43000 block of Sereno Dr, Temecula. The suspect Clifford Alvarez (age 41) was identified by the victims and witness and he was arrested for two counts of attempted kidnapping and one count of criminal threats.

It is important to keep an eye out for these type of people and teach your children about how to respond in the event they are approached or questioned in a way that is inappropriate.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the Temecula Police Department at (951) 696-3000 or (951) 696-HELP.

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