Crime & Safety
Wanted Trio Nabbed In French Valley After Chase, K9 Bite: Police
Sheriff's officials say a K9 helped them track down the third person — who was hiding inside a shed.
TEMECULA, CA — Three people who were wanted by police for various warrants were caught as the Temecula Special Enforcement team, or SET, tracked them down to a travel trailer in the French Valley area this week, officials said.
On Tuesday afternoon, the SET headed out to the 32300 block of Yates Road after getting word that two people they had been searching for were at the property.
"Officers arrived at the location and approached the travel trailer on the property," sheriff's Sgt. Jon Wade said in a news release. "As the officers made their approach, a male subject immediately fled on foot onto a neighboring property."
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Despite the man's attempts to thwart police, he was "ultimately intercepted" and arrested, Wade said. He was identified as 27-year-old Che Smith of French Valley, who had two warrants out for his arrest: One related to a vehicle theft from Orange County and another related to a parole violation in Riverside County.
In addition to Smith, police spotted a woman named Cheyenne Hunter at the travel trailer. The 25-year-old, wanted for a grand theft case in Riverside County, was also arrested.
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Meanwhile, police said yet another person was found at the location.
"As the officers were taking Hunter into custody they became aware that a third subject had also fled on foot out of their line of sight," Wade said. "The third subject was believed to be hiding on the property so the Temecula K9 Unit began checking the immediate surrounding structures."
The dog eventually led officers to a storage shed, and they tried to coax the man out, according to the sergeant. After the man wouldn't answer authorities, they sent the K9 in.
Robert Felix, 34, was bit by the dog and arrested, police said. The Temecula resident was taken to the hospital and then arrested.
After all three people were in custody, police said they found illegal drugs, a reported stolen vehicle and an unregistered firearm at the Yates Road property.
— Images via Riverside County Sheriff's Department
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