Banning Trio Accused In Violent Crime Spree

BANNING, CA — Three Banning men were behind bars Friday after being tied to a series of violent crimes and robberies in the Banning and Beaumont areas, police announced. Jose Verdusco, Jr., 18, Jacob Valdepena, 19 and Nahemiah Coles, 19, were all arrested Thursday, according to booking records.

Banning police say that it all started around 10:37 p.m. Wednesday when they got a 911 hang up call. They traced it to the 900 block of East Hoffer Street where they found a man who said he'd been held at gunpoint inside his home. The assailants had also taken off with a gun safe.

"The [man] told officers that his friend, identified as Nahemiah Coles... was also inside the residence and was allegedly kidnapped by the two suspects who left the location with Coles."

Detectives soon identified Valdepena and Verdusco as the two involved in the home invasion, police said. They also found out what vehicle they'd been using.

"Detectives discovered that the suspects and suspect vehicle are the same suspects reported in several crimes over a one-month period, to include multiple shootings in the City of Banning," police said in a news release. "An All Points Bulletin was sent out to all local law enforcement agencies of the suspects and vehicle involved in the case and an active search was initiated."

By early Thursday morning, the accused criminals committed another crime in town, police said. At around 1 a.m., an armed robbery was reported at the Arco am-pm in the 700 block of East Ramsey Street.

When police got to the convenience store, the suspects were already gone, police said. However, surveillance footage showed Valdepena and Verdusco were behind the hold-up, police said.

"Additionally, Detectives were able to identify Nahemiah Coles as a willing participant in the armed robberies along with Valdepena and Verdusco," police said. "It was also discovered that the same suspects were involved in an armed robbery in the City of Beaumont ten minutes prior to the Banning armed robbery."

Then, at around 4 a.m., police tracked down Coles to Whitewater. He had apparently been attacked.

"Coles had been a willing participant in the crime spree, but was assaulted by Verdusco during an argument with an unknown type of object and sustained injures from the assault," police said.

Coles was arrested and booked into the Banning jail on suspicion of robbery and conspiracy to commit a crime. His bail was set at $35,000, according to records.

On Thursday afternoon, police — along with a SWAT team— served a search warrant on South Hargrave Street, where they arrested Verdusco, police said. He was also taken to the Banning jail, but was booked on more charges than Coles, including false imprisonment, armed robbery, conspiracy to commit a crime and assault with a deadly weapon. He was being held without bail, according to booking records.

Around the same time, Morongo Tribal Police spotted the suspect vehicle in the case in the area of Hathaway Street and Morongo Road, police said.

"A high risk traffic stop was conducted and Jacob Valdepena was driving the vehicle and placed under arrest," police said. "Valdepena was booked into the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility."

Valdepena's charges also included false imprisonment, armed robbery, conspiracy to commit a crime and assault with a deadly weapon, according to booking records. He was being held without bail.

When Valdepena was stopped, police said there were two 16-year-olds in the vehicle. One of them was ultimately arrested as well for being in possession of a firearm. They were not publicly identified.

Police said that they eventually found the gun safe taken in the Wednesday home invasion and that "the suspects were unable to access [it]."

Anyone who may have witnessed the alleged crimes is asked to call the Banning Police Department at 951-922-3170.