Mystery Murrieta Target Evacuation Solved: UPDATE

MURRIETA, CA — Shoppers and workers alike were forced out of one of Murrieta's local Target stores on Tuesday, but the reason why remained a mystery for several hours. The store on California Oaks Road was evacuated sometime before 9 a.m., witnesses tell Patch.

A photo from the scene, attached above, showed unmarked vehicles were parked outside the Target entrance and yellow caution tape blocked the public from entering. Uniformed officials were stationed outside as well, but Murrieta Police tell Patch it was not their case.

After receiving inquiries from curious readers, Murrieta Patch attempted for hours to determine what prompted the evacuation. Murrieta police, the Riverside County Sheriff's Department and other local agencies said the incident did not involve their departments.

Rather, the evacuation stemmed from what should have been a simple warrant service, Patch has learned.

Officials with the Riverside County Department of Social Services went to the store to seize records related to a welfare fraud investigation, according to Agency Spokeswoman Mary Parks.

"Our welfare investigators went in with a warrant to seize records," Parks said, adding that a judge had signed off on the agency obtaining records to help stop a part-time employee from allegedly "double-dipping" and claiming government assistance while also working for the store.

Officials with the Target media relations team said officials requested the evacuation "as part of an investigation."

However, there was some apparent confusion.

"At no time did we ask the store to close or evacuate," Parks said. "They did that on their own after refusing to let us in initially."

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Image courtesy: Shonna Goettman