Gang Task Force Investigations Lead To 25 Arrests Across SW RivCo

SOUTHWEST RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — Gang task force members have been busy across Southwest Riverside County, where several arrests have taken place in recent weeks, according to reports from the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

A man with a long criminal history — and who the sheriff's department alleges is a documented criminal street gang member — is scheduled back in court Thursday following his recent arrest in Wildomar.

Danny Rodriguez, 38, is scheduled to appear for a felony settlement conference regarding charges of drug sales, drug possession, possessing drugs while armed, being a convicted felon and narcotics addict, and resisting a peace officer — all felonies that he previously pleaded not guilty to.

Rodriguez was arrested around 7 p.m. Sept. 24 after a brief chase in the 21800 block of Silver Run Circle. When gang task force members attempted to serve a felony warrant on him, Rodriguez fled across several nearby properties but was eventually taken into custody after a short struggle, according to the sheriff's department.

"Following a probation search of the suspect’s vehicle and the area where he ran, officers located almost half pound of methamphetamine, several ounces of heroin, over $2,000 of currency, and a loaded firearm," the department reported.

Rodriguez was booked into Southwest Detention Center and remained in custody Wednesday in lieu of $250,000 bail, according to jail records.

On the same day as Rodriguez's arrest, a Menifee man was taken into custody by gang task force members on firearms and drug charges. Richard Raymond Angels, 33, was arrested around 3 p.m. in the 30600 block of Briggs Road.

Angels, who lived at the location and was on post-release community supervision, had several outstanding felony warrants for his arrest, according to the sheriff's department. He was arrested without incident after deputies found two firearms, ammunition, heroin, and methamphetamine, the sheriff's department reported.

Court records were unavailable for Angels.

The arrests of Angels and Rodriguez came the day after the Riverside County Regional Gang Task Force and other law enforcement agencies conducted probation/parole compliance checks across Temecula, Murrieta, Wildomar, Menifee, Lake Elsinore, and Winchester.

The sweep took place from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sept. 23 and led to 21 arrests and the seizure of firearms, ammunition, stolen vehicles and illegal drugs, according to the sheriff's department.

Days following the sweep, a man was arrested by gang task force members after a search warrant was served at a residence in the 40700 block of Vista Murrieta Road in Murrieta.

Armando Felipe Gonzalez Sr., 49, was taken into custody around 4 p.m. Sept. 30. Jail records show he was booked on suspicion of possession of a stolen vehicle and taking a vehicle without an owner's consent. Another adult at the residence was arrested on suspicion of several outstanding misdemeanor warrants, according to the sheriff's department.

Gonzalez was released from custody Tuesday, Oct. 5, on $60,000 bail and is due to appear in court next month.

A woman, whose identity was not released, was arrested around 1:30 p.m. Oct. 1 after gang task force members served a weapon/gang-related search warrant at an address in the 23700 block of Bundy Canyon Road in Wildomar. At the location, detectives found two loaded handguns and methamphetamine, according to the sheriff's department.

It's unclear whether any of the cases are connected.