Crime & Safety
More Than A Dozen Arrested During Police Crackdown On Illegal Encampments At RivCo Park
Police said the multi-agency operations will continue in the interest abating blight and ensuing public safety in the park.
RIVERSIDE, CA — A multi-agency crackdown to remove illegal encampments from Fairmount Park near downtown Riverside netted more than a dozen arrests and the removal of unauthorized facilities, authorities said Thursday.
Riverside police officers, city Department of Code Enforcement officers, Parks & Neighborhood specialists and Riverside County Department of Animal Services personnel joined in the "special enforcement operation," which was conducted over an hourslong period Wednesday.
Detective Steve Espinosa said 17 people were taken into custody on a mix felony and misdemeanor allegations, "including illegal camping, outstanding warrants, probation violations and trespassing."
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Three people were cited and released, while 14 were booked into the Robert Presley Jail. Their identities were not disclosed.
"Code Enforcement personnel canvassed the (park) and conducted a comprehensive cleanup of the affected areas," Espinosa said. "Encampment- related materials, abandoned property, trash, rubbish, debris, drug paraphernalia and other miscellaneous items were removed, restoring the area to a cleaner and safer condition."
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According to the police spokesman, the multi-agency operations will continue in the interest abating blight and ensuing public safety in the park, which is adjacent to the Santa Ana River bottom, where homeless encampments are an ongoing concern.
"These (agency) partnerships are essential to preserving Fairmount Park and other public spaces as safe, clean and accessible areas for residents and visitors to enjoy," Espinosa said.
